Boosting water quality in Macquarie Harbour

Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon Julie Collins MP
Senator for Tasmania, Senator Anne Urquhart

The Albanese Labor Government wants to see a sustainable salmon industry that supports workers and their families right into the future.

We are also committed to protecting the environment.

That’s why we’re investing more than $28 million in new measures to boost water quality and improve environmental conditions at Macquarie Harbour. 

These measures will build on existing environmental and species conservation interventions in Macquarie Harbour, which plays an important role in Tasmania’s $1 billion aquaculture industry.  

Of the funding, $21 million will be committed to improving and scaling up oxygenation in Macquarie Harbour.  

Oxygenation will help offset the effects of human activities, while other aspects of the program focus on sediment remediation and research on the effects of historical mining. 

Another $5 million will expand the current Maugean Skate breeding program’s work on hatching eggs and raising juvenile skates for release.

This will help sustain the Maugean Skate population, while environmental conservation efforts work to improve its habitat.  

$2.5 million will be committed to skate population and environmental monitoring, compliance as well as community engagement.

This includes engagement with the nearby community of Strahan, and environmental monitoring to better understand the ecosystems and health of Macquarie Harbour. 

Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

"The Tasmanian salmon industry is the backbone of many regional communities and it’s essential we support the thousands of jobs it creates right across the state.

"To do that it’s essential we have a sustainable industry, which supports workers and the environment.

“That’s exactly what this will help to do, making sure we have a sustainable salmon industry and deliver stability for workers and their families into the future."

Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins: 

“The Albanese Labor Government backs Tasmania’s salmon industry which supports thousands of jobs across the state. 

“That’s why I’m pleased to announce these measures today to increase efforts to improve the health of Macquarie Harbour. 

“These measures will protect our state’s unique environment and support sustainable salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour.  

“Tasmania’s independent environmental regulator has already confirmed oxygen levels in Macquarie Harbour are rising, and the Albanese Labor Government is pleased to be supporting measures to continue these improvements.” 

Quotes attributable to Senator for Tasmania Anne Urquhart:

“The Tasmanian Salmon Industry delivers good, well-paid jobs for workers, and supports families and regional communities across Tasmania. From fish farms on Macquarie Harbour in Strahan to processing facilities in Devonport, there are hundreds of local jobs that rely on this industry.

"Today’s announcement is about delivering a strong future for fish farming in Macquarie Harbour. We know that engineered oxygenation has worked overseas, and a trial already underway in Macquarie Harbour is showing increasing levels of dissolved oxygen.

"The current oxygenation trial by the Australian Government's Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and Salmon Tasmania is supporting conservation efforts for the Maugean Skate.

“Their work provides the evidence-base for this additional Federal Government investment which will protect the industry and the Maugean Skate.

“Labor stands on the side of jobs, and we also stand on the side of sustainability. These two things aren't contradictory; they go together.”