Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared his support for the Tasmanian salmon industry during a visit to the island on Saturday.
“I support the Tasmanian salmon industry,” he said during his trip to Strahan on the West Coast.
“As long as I’m Prime Minister, there’ll be support for jobs here in Tasmania because I understand how important it is for the Tasmanian economy.”
His comments come amid growing pressure from environmental groups to halt salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour due to concerns for the endangered Maugean skate.
Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek is currently assessing the future of salmon farming in the harbour, with activists lobbying for licence revocations.
Although Albanese voiced support for the industry, he stopped short of making any commitments, disappointing locals who had hoped for concrete measures before Christmas.
Instead, he assured them that Labor “will do whatever we can” to sustain the industry.
According to Salmon Tasmania, approximately 9,500 tonnes of salmon will be produced in Macquarie Harbour this year—less than half of the 2016 yield.
About 3.3% of the harbour, which spans 33 kilometres in length and 9 kilometres in width, is occupied by a total of 10 marine leases.
While the industry supports the local economy and provides livelihoods for many workers and their families, the Greens’ Tasmanian Senator Nick McKim said it must end.
“The very small number of impacted workers need to be supported through a transition, but at the end of the day, we are in a situation where industrial salmon farming continues to operate in Macquarie Harbour and the Maugean skate will slide into extinction,” he said.
