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.
The Marine Farming Development Plan for the region is available on the Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania website.
Broadscale Environmental Monitoring Program Reports
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.
The TPDNO will reduce the annual finfish feed inputs by approximately 20% from levels over the past 4 years.
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)