The EPA currently regulates finfish farming at four marine farming leases in the Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula and Norfolk Bay region.
The location of these finfish farms and associated environmental licences can be accessed via the
EPA Regulated Premises layer on LISTmap. See our Site Information page for details.
The Marine Farming Development Plan for the region is available on the Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania website.
Environmental Licence Renewals
On 15 December 2023, the Director decided to renew for a 2-year period the environmental licence for the Long Bay lease in the Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula and Norfolk Bay region.
The Director has provided a Statement of Reasons that outlines the Director's reasons for renewing this environmental licence.
Statement of Reasons - Environmental Licence Renewal - Tassal - Long Bay MF55, December 2023 (PDF 156Kb)
Additional circumstances that the Director has considered under section 42T(5) of EMPCA during his decision-making process in renewing this environmental licence are found below:
Circumstances for consideration under section 42T(5) - MF55 Long Bay (PDF 548Kb)
For further details regarding environmental licence conditions, all environmental licences can be accessed via the EPA Regulated Premises layer on LISTmap.
Broadscale Environmental Monitoring Program Reports
Annual Broadscale Monitoring Report for the Tasman Peninsula and Norfolk Bay Marine Farming Development Plan - 2022-2023 (PDF 17Mb)
Annual Broadscale Monitoring Report for the Tasman Peninsula and Norfolk Bay Marine Farming Development Plan - 2021-2022 (PDF 13Mb)
Annual Broadscale Monitoring Report for the Tasman Peninsula and Norfolk Bay Marine Farming Development Plan - 2020-2021 (PDF 11Mb)
Annual Broadscale Monitoring Report for the Tasman Peninsula and Norfolk Bay Marine Farming Development Plan - 2019-2020 (PDF 9Mb)
Annual Broadscale Monitoring Report for the Tasman Peninsula and Norfolk Bay Marine Farming Development Plan - 2018-2019 (PDF 10Mb)
Annual Broadscale Monitoring Report for the Tasman Peninsula and Norfolk Bay Marine Farming Development Plan - 2017-2018 (PDF 7Mb)
Management Determinations and Directions
The EPA issues Environmental Licences and makes determinations and directions under management controls specified in Marine Farming Development Plans. This includes the setting of Total Permissible Dissolved Nitrogen Output (TPDNO) for marine finfish farming regions and imposing requirements for environmental monitoring. TPDNO determinations also provide a share (apportionment) of the total TPDNO to each company that has active Environmental Licences for marine finfish farming in the region.
Marine Farming Lease No. 55 Long Bay
In response to concerns about nuisance algae in Port Arthur, the EPA commissioned the University of Tasmania Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) in 2020 to undertake rapid visual assessment surveys and stable isotope analysis on reef ecosystems in Long Bay and across the broader Port Arthur region.
The purpose of these surveys was to:
- evaluate the condition of inshore rocky reef ecosystems in Long Bay and the broader Port Arthur region; and
- investigate potential nutrient enrichment from the finfish farm located at the southern end of Long Bay.
IMAS submitted an initial report - Rapid visual assessment of rocky reef assemblages in Port Arthur, February 2022 - to the EPA on 26 July 2022 following external scientific peer review. IMAS repeated the surveys in January and June 2022 and provided a presentation to EPA following completion of data analysis by IMAS. The 2022 survey results were consistent with those identified in the 2021 surveys.
Surveys of rocky reefs showed the effects of significant nutrient enrichment at sites 100m from the farm and 400m to the west of the farm. The study also showed that the Long Bay salmon farm is a source of nutrients to the rocky reefs at 100m and 400m from the farm.
Determination of Total Permissible Dissolved Nitrogen Output
In response to the IMAS inshore reef study, the BEMP results shown above and
independent water quality monitoring results, EPA has imposed a Total Permissible Dissolved Nitrogen Output (TPDNO) determination on Marine Farming Lease No. 55 at Long Bay (MF55). The determination was made on 7 July 2023, and takes effect from 1 August 2023 until 31 July 2026. This determination was reviewed on 5 July 2024 to specify the TPDNO for a recurring fixed 12-month period, commencing on 1 August 2024.
The TPDNO reduced the annual finfish feed inputs by approximately 20% compared to levels from 2019 to 2023.
Determination TPDNO MF55 Long Bay (PDF 91Kb)
Statement of Reasons - MF55 Long Bay TPDNO Determination and Monitoring Direction (PDF 378Kb)
Direction to monitor reefs
The Director imposed additional monitoring requirements for MF55 to assess the effectiveness of the TPDNO determination in reducing the organic enrichment effects on the inshore rocky reef assemblages within Long Bay. The direction was made on 7 July 2023. The direction is ongoing and will be reviewed biennially by EPA.
Direction Reef and Water Quality monitoring MF55 Long Bay (PDF 2Mb)
Reef monitoring reports
The 2024 RVA report found evidence of organic enrichment on macroalgal communities in Long Bay. Abundances of nuisance green, nuisance red and turfing algae at the 100m sites (adjacent to the farm) were elevated when compared to sites further from the farm. No significant change in abundance of algae was observed in the 2024 report. This suggests that enrichment from the farm has not got worse since reef monitoring began.