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Surfers issue fish farm warning

September 2, 2022 8:15 pm in by

Surf board shark attack 06.07.2021

Surfers are concerned any increase in Tasmanian salmon farming will attract more great whites.

Surfing Tasmania President Mick Laurence says acquaculture companies need to share any shark sightings for public safety.

“Since the salmon industry began in the mid-1980s we’ve witnessed a massive increase in white pointer activity,” he said. 

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“We’re asking the government to mandate that fish farms notify either MAST or the water police of any sightings of white pointers.

“We have no objections to a world’s best practice industry, unfortunately with over 160 concerns raised by the upper house, we’re still a long way from that.”

Meantime the state’s Environment Protection Authority is clamping down on fish farming in Macquarie Harbour after highly-publicised mass deaths due to low oxygen.

New nitrogen limits brings fish farming at Macquarie into line with management methods already used in areas like the D’entrecasteaux channel.

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