SHELLFISH FARMING — ALBANY — REPORTS
807. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the parliamentary secretary to
the Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to the environmental
assessments report in support of shellfish farming in Albany, dated July 2021,
commissioned by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
and undertaken by BMT.
(1) Given the qualification in the addendum to the
report that ''BMT wishes to emphasise that the results presented herein are based on a one-dimensional hydrodynamic
model, coupled to a simple ecosystem model. It relies on several assumptions,
many of which are untested, or if not characterised by significant uncertainty'',
will the minister now refer the south coast aquaculture development
zones to the Environmental Protection Authority for assessment prior to making
any decisions regarding the zone that may impact on other existing uses?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
Hon DARREN
WEST replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
On behalf of the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Fisheries, I provide the following answer.
(1) No.
(2) As part of
the planning process, the Environmental Protection Authority chair advised that
the proposed approach of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development in respect of environmental monitoring and management of the zone
was reasonable and would lead to appropriate environmental outcomes. The EPA position was dependent on
best-practice management and monitoring programs being in place to
enable an adaptive management approach for the zone. This position was also
supported by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. DPIRD has
existing legislative powers to ensure that
effective monitoring and adaptive management can be implemented and will work
with the aquaculture industry and DWER to ensure the environmental
sustainability of its operations.