Proposed Development Information to Accompany

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

TO ACCOMPANY A REQUEST TO

AMEND THE TASMAN PENINSULA AND NORFOLK BAY MARINE FARMING DEVELOPMENT PLAN NOVEMBER 2005

This environmental impact statement has been prepared by;

Tassal Operations Pty Ltd. G.P.O. Box 1645 Hobart Tasmania Australia 7001

Phone: 1300 TASSAL (1300 827725) Fax: 1300 880 179

Web: www.tassal.com.au E-mail: [email protected]

GLOSSARY

ADCP Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler AGD Amoebic Gill Disease ASC Aquaculture Stewardship Council Salmon Aquaculture Standard CAMBA China-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement DPIW Department of Primary Industries and Water EIS Environmental Impact Statement EPBCA Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 FCR Feed Conversion Rate GDA Geocentric Datum of Australia GPS Global Positioning System HAB Harmful Algal Bloom IMAS Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies JAMBA Japan-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement MAST Marine and Safety Tasmania MFDP Marine Farming Development Plan MFPA Marine Farming Planning Act 1995 MFPRP Marine Farming Planning Review Panel PA Planning Authority PS Proposal Summary PSEG Proposal Specific Environmental Impact Statement Guidelines ROKAMBA Republic of Korea-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement SCUBA Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus TSPA Threatened Species Protection Act

iii

1 Table of Contents

Contents GLOSSARY ...... III 1 ...... Table of Contents ...... iv 2 ...... Executive Summary ...... 1 2.1 Proposed Amendment Description ...... 1 2.2 Stakeholder Consultation ...... 2 2.3 Existing Environment ...... 2 2.4 Potential Effects and Their Management ...... 2 2.5 Summary of Effects and Their Management ...... 3 3 ...... Proposed Amendment Description ...... 4 3.1 Proposal Overview ...... 4 3.2 Infrastructure and Servicing ...... 7 3.3 Stock Husbandry Aspects ...... 11 3.4 Waste Management ...... 15 4 ...... Stakeholder Consultation ...... 20 5 ...... Existing Environment ...... 21 5.1 Environmental Conditions ...... 21 5.2 Flora and Fauna ...... 28 6 ...... Potential Effects and their Management ...... 39 6.1 Impacts on the Natural Environment ...... 39 6.2 Impacts on the Human Environment ...... 94 7 ...... Summary of Effects and their Management ...... 105 8 ...... Conclusion ...... 118 9 ...... References ...... 119 10 ...... Appendices ...... 124

List of Figures Figure 1 Tassal's Tasman Farming Region ...... 5 Figure 2 Tassal salmon sales volumes ...... 7 Figure 3 Quantity of medication administered to salmon stocks in the Tasman Farming Region from 2006 to September 2015 ...... 13 Figure 4 A 30 year hindcast model indicates winds at Wedge Bay are predominantly from the northern and western sectors...... 22 Figure 5 The wind and wave model location is not afforded the same level of protection from the south as the remainder of Wedge Bay...... 23 Figure 6 Map of water quality sampling sites at the Tasman Farming Region ...... 25 Figure 7 Map showing survey locations for seabirds recorded in “Storm Bay”* ...... 30 Figure 8 Nitrogen emissions (soluble and solid) for historic, current and expected feed inputs ...... 43 Figure 9 Soluble nitrogen emissions as a function of feed input at the Tasman Farming Region (2008-2017) ...... 43 Figure 10 Tassal environmental monitoring sites ...... 47 Figure 11 Solid Nitrogen emissions relative to annual feed input ...... 54 Figure 12 Nests of Wedge-tailed Eagles (from Threatened Species Section 2006) ...... 62 Figure 13 Nests of White-bellied Sea-eagles (from Threatened Species Section 2006) ...... 62 Figure 14 Tassal shoreline clean-up schedule ...... 65 Figure 15 Fish cage at Creeses Mistake Lease showing bird netting and bird stand in centre of cage ...... 95

List of Tables Table 1 Vessels to be used by Tassal to service the Tasman Farming Region ...... 8 Table 2 Expected changes to amenity as a result of the proposed amendment ...... 8 Table 3 Water quality parameters included in the sampling program ...... 25 Table 4 Seabirds recorded in “Storm Bay” in the BirdLife Tasmania database. “Storm Bay” is defined here as a polygon with vertices at (a) Iron Pot, (b) Cape Queen Elizabeth, (c) Cape Raoul and (d) North-west Head...... 30 Table 5 Marine mammals that may be found in the vicinity of the Tasman Farming Region ...... 32 Table 6 Listed Threatened and Migratory species and communities under the EPBCA and TSPA within 5 km of the Tasman Farming Region...... 33 Table 7 Previous, current (and expected) annual feed inputs and nitrogen emissions to the surrounding environment for the Tasman Farming Region...... 42 Table 9 Birds protected under bilateral agreements (JAMBA, CAMBA and ROKAMBA) through the Federal EPBC Act 1999...... 60 Table 10 Vessels ...... 96 Table 11 Other powered equipment ...... 97 Table 12 Miscellaneous Noise producing equipment ...... 97 Table 13 Summary of potential effects and their management ...... 105

2 Executive Summary

Tassal is a vertically integrated company that includes freshwater hatcheries, saltwater aquaculture, processing, value adding and retail outlets. Tassal is committed to being the industry leader in sustainable aquaculture production in Australia. Tassal currently farms approximately 24 000 T of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) per annum, with all of the stock produced in Tasmania. Tassal is the largest producer of Atlantic salmon in Australia and is a publicly listed company on the Australian Stock Exchange. More recently Tassal has acquired De Costi Seafoods allowing direct access to wholesale markets around the nation. This partnership provides a direct market link to supply chains and allows Tassal to enter the greater seafood distribution domain.

As part of Tassal’s ongoing commitment to environmental and social best practice, the company holds Global Aquaculture Alliances Best Aquaculture Practices certification of its Marine Farming Operations and its Primary Processing Facility.

This document will cover the proposed amendment to the Tasman Farming Region.

2.1 Proposed Amendment Description The rationale behind this proposal is to harmonize the Tasman Farming Region’s environmental monitoring with other Tasmanian salmon farming regions, and will align this region with State-wide best practice water quality monitoring. This will provide a framework which will allow Tassal the flexibility to stock fish depending on environmental performance, rather than a prescribed input. The mechanism to allow such a proposal is through the adoption of Water Quality Limit Levels to assess ecosystem condition in waters surrounding the Tasman Farming Region.

There will be around 40 months of extensive environmental background data by the time the maximum proposed stocking numbers are reached.

The proposed amendment is to remove Special Management Control 3.14.9 from the Tasman and Norfolk Bay MFDP November 2005. This relates to increasing flexibility to allow for increased fish numbers at the Tasman Farming Region, within the environmental constraints, monitoring and reporting provisions. It also relates to harmonizing environment management approaches across all of Tassal’s farming regions.

This Special Management Control was included as an environmental management control capping the combined fish input into the Tasman Farming Region at a maximum of 770,000 fish per year. Historically fish numbers have fluctuated prior to the 2013 amendment where the aforementioned cap was put in place voluntarily within the MFDP.

2.2 Stakeholder Consultation Tassal has instigated a stakeholder engagement program (SEP) to interact with the local community and other stakeholders to discuss this project, its rationale, seek feedback and influence outcomes. Details of the program are outlined in Section 4.

The ongoing strategy assists in raising stakeholder awareness and identifies issues and concerns. Stakeholder engagement has provided information that has also assisted in the development of some components of this proposal.

In this instance, due to the nature of this proposed amendment, Tassal has undertaken abbreviated stakeholder consultation only.

2.3 Existing Environment The Tasman Farming Region is located in Wedge Bay, Billy Blue Bay and Parsons Bay, and is dominated by saline oceanic waters from Storm Bay, and freshwater influences from Parsons Bay. It is operated within the Tasman Peninsula and Norfolk Bay MFDP area.

The Tasman Farming region is a long standing area used for marine finfish culture by Tassal. Water quality, sediment metabolism and environmental assimilation are well understood in the region with a considerable body of scientific research and monitoring being conducted across these facets for many years.

A number of listed threatened and migratory species (under the EPBCA and TSPA) are known to occur in and around Wedge Bay. An assessment of the known risks to these species has determined that the proposed amendment does not pose any significant impact to these species or require additional mitigation measures to be implemented.

2.4 Potential Effects and Their Management The proposed development intends to build upon Tassal’s existing record of sound environmental compliance within the Tasman Farming Region and harmonise regulatory water quality monitoring with other farming regions around the state.

Under the proposal there will be the potential for an increase in fish numbers to the Tasman Farming Region. As such, Tassal proposes management through environmental water quality limit levels determined from environmental monitoring programs undertaken in nearby waters since 2014.

With the company’s transition to Kikko design nets across a number of farming regions in the past four years, Tassal has been able to reduce net cleaning activities on a scale of 3:1 when compared to the cleaning of traditional monofilament nets. Cages are now needing to be cleaned approximately 10 times per production cycle.

Marine vegetation communities are relatively abundant in south eastern Tasmania, and there is no evidence to suggest that marine farming operations at The Tasman Farming

Region have significantly impacted on marine plant communities within the area. Tassal will continue to monitor macroalgal assemblages (i.e. Giant kelp) in and around the Tasman Peninsula Area.

Tassal’s Wildlife Interaction Plan encompasses bird and marine mammal management strategies for all Tassal operations. Tassal has taken, and will continue to take, a proactive approach to managing key environmental issues as they arise.

There are minimal chemicals used at Tassal’s marine sites. Tassal ceased using antifoulants on netting in the Tasman Farming Region in 2013. The main chemicals used at the sites are fuels, cleaning agents and disinfectants. Procedures are in place for the use of all chemicals and spill prevention and response, including on site spill kits.

Amoebic Gill Disease is the main fish health issue in the Tasman Farming Region. However, it is proactively managed by Tassal through their program of continuous surveillance and freshwater bathing.

Harmful algal blooms and jellyfish presence are constantly monitored through daily algal trawls and associated observational work on site.

There will be no additional cage infrastructure resulting from this amendment. Tassal will ensure that all structures and nets comply with marine farming licence conditions in order to minimise visual impact.

As work patterns will not change, noise levels are not expected to significantly increase as a result of the proposed amendment, and will remain within EMPCA requirements.

2.5 Summary of Effects and Their Management Under the proposal there would be the potential for an increase in feed input to the Tasman Farming Region owing to the ability to increase fish numbers. The relative outputs associated are well understood and the assimilative capacity of the surrounding environment has shown in past farming strategies to respond well to fluctuating feed and stock inputs. The Water Quality Limit Levels will be included as marine farming licence conditions and have been set to detect any change in ecosystem condition at the broadscale level. The data underpinning this approach commenced in 2009 and is complemented by a range of ecological studies with a number of fixed subtidal monitoring sites located in the Tasman Farming Region. Tassal will continue to monitor water quality sites in and around the Storm Bay area and is committed to environmental management of the marine ecosystem.

3 Proposed Amendment Description

3.1 Proposal Overview

3.1.1 Proponent Details Tassal Operations Pty Ltd., 30 Waterworth Rd, Margate TAS 7054.

Tassal is a vertically integrated company that includes freshwater hatcheries, saltwater aquaculture, and processing and value adding. Tassal is the largest producer of Atlantic salmon in Australia, farming approximately 24 000 T of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) per annum in Tasmania. Tassal is an ASX-Listed public company that employs more than 1,100 people.

Tassal currently holds licenses in five marine farming zones in four different MFDP areas throughout the State.

Tassal has achieved full certification for all of their Marine Farms, primary processing and value adding to the Global Aquaculture Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council standard for Salmon Aquaculture (ASC), and will continue to align with industry best practice. The ASC standards present a rigorous template for international best practice which addresses the following seven principles:

• Legal compliance • Preservation of the natural environment and biodiversity • Preservation of water resources and water quality • Preservation of diversity of species and wild populations • Monitored and responsible use of animal feed and other resources • Animal health and welfare • Social responsibility

3.1.2 Proposed Development In August 2014, the Minister for Primary Industries Parks, Water and Environment approved Draft Amendment No.2 to the Tasman Peninsula and Norfolk Bay Marine Farming Development Plan. This amendment involved extending MF190 (Creeses Mistake) by approximately 600 m to the west and rotation of the lease 15 to the south to allow greater water flow across the lease. This resulted in an increase of approximately 23.5 ha to the lease area. ⁰

Currently the Tasman Peninsula and Norfolk Bay Marine Farming Development Plan February 2005 (MFDP) contains Special Management Control 3.14.9 which limits the amount of smolt that can be introduced into marine farming Zones 14A, 14B, and 14C (which constitutes the Tasman Farming Region), as prescribed by the Plan, to 770,000 per annum.

Based on the historical performance of leases within the Tasman Farming Region (see Figure 1), Tassal believes this area has the capacity to sustainably grow more fish than the current lease controls allow, in line with environmental best practice and certification requirements regarding stocking, fallowing and fish health best practice.

This draft amendment proposes that Special Management Control 3.14.9 be deleted and replaced with environmental water quality limit levels determined from environmental monitoring programs undertaken in nearby waters since 2009. As a consequence of the proposed amendment specific water quality limit levels will be included as marine farming licence conditions. The conditions will require an ongoing monitoring program in the Tasman Farming Region. The results of annual regulatory compliance water quality monitoring will be assessed against the prescribed water quality limit levels, and if levels are breached management responses will be implemented through regulation.

This change to management processes will allow Tassal greater flexibility in relation to fish numbers held within the Tasman Farming Region while providing a robust environmental management framework to monitor and manage the influences of operations on the environment.

Figure 1 Tassal's Tasman Farming Region

3.1.3 Rationale / Need for the Proposal The rationale behind this proposal is to allow Tassal the flexibility to stock fish depending on environmental and fish health performance, rather than a capped input. This flexibility means that Tassal can divert stock inputs from one farming area to another, depending on fish health conditions and the benthic environment. Therefore, this draft amendment proposes to replace the smolt input control specified by Special Management Control 3.14.9 with a more contemporary and risk based approach to managing impacts from finfish farming on the marine environment using biological and physical environmental data.

Tassal believes this form of monitoring provides a more effective and flexible means of managing and understanding the environmental impacts from finfish farming. Tassal proposes the use of water quality limit levels for key environmental indicators as the most appropriate means for managing these impacts.

These data will be derived from environmental monitoring studies (Ongoing monitoring commissioned by Tassal in February 2014) to determine appropriate limits (i.e. water quality limit levels) within which finfish farming can sustainably occur in the Tasman Farming Region. The Tasman Farming Region is the only region in Tasmania where a primary management control relates directly to smolt input and fish numbers.

The proposed approach not only provides Tassal with the added flexibility to increase and manage fish inputs to this important farming region in Tasmania’s south east based on ecological management principles, but also supports the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) accreditation requirements for ongoing certification to the ASC Standards. It is Tassal’s intention to progress to this type of broadscale monitoring for the entire Tasman Peninsula region, including the Port Arthur lease and the developing West of Wedge proposal.

Tassal has already been working towards implementing a broadscale monitoring approach and has undertaken water quality and macroalgal/rocky reef monitoring within the Tasman Farming Region since 2013. Coupled with the previous monitoring undertaken within the Storm Bay region, this ongoing monitoring supports the rationale to replace the Special Management Control 3.14.9 with an environmental monitoring program focussed on key environmental indicators. This approach also aligns with the extensive monitoring that Tassal has been conducting throughout all its other growing areas.

3.1.4 Existing and Likely Markets for Product Demand for seafood and farmed salmon consumption has been growing globally and nationally for over a decade. The majority of Tassal’s production is exported interstate and increased demand has resulted in the need for increased production.

Figure 2 Tassal salmon sales volumes

Tassal Atlantic salmon is available in fresh and frozen whole fish, fillets, sliced hot and cold smoked salmon portions, value added portions and canned. Tassal products can be found in fresh fish shops and supermarkets throughout Australia.

Tassal has an experienced sales and marketing department located in Melbourne and operates two successful and dedicated salmon shops in both Hobart and Melbourne. More recently, Tassal has acquired De Costi Seafoods, allowing direct access to wholesale markets. This partnership provides a direct marketing link to supply chains and allows Tassal to enter the greater seafood distribution domain.

3.2 Infrastructure and Servicing

3.2.1 Sea Pens This proposal will not require any further cage infrastructure at the Tasman Farming Region.

The Tasman Farming Region has the existing infrastructure (i.e. 40 sea cages) and lease space to house the fluctuating fish numbers as proposed. Under normal operations, sea pens are rotated through scheduled stock input, subsequent biomass splits and ongoing net cleaning practices.

The Tasman Farming Region is a biosecure and isolated farming region that does not share farming infrastructure with any other of Tassal’s farming regions.

3.2.2 Servicing the Proposed Zone Servicing of the amended farming region would follow the same pattern as the existing arrangement. Work crews access the farming region on a daily basis from the land base adjacent to MF193 (Parsons Bay). The number of trips and types of vessels to be used are detailed in Table 1;

Table 1 Vessels to be used by Tassal to service the Tasman Farming Region Vessel Activity Frequency Royal Whistler Farm Works 5 trips per week Royal Wedge Farm Works 5 trips per week Persistence Farm Works 7 trips per week Jack Sparrow Dive Tender Up to 7 trips per week Royal Pusher Works Barge 3-5 trips per week Endeavour Two Farm Works 5 trips per week Royal Pillar Farm Works 5 trips per week Dynamic In situ net cleaning 3-4 trips per week Stealth Wildlife Management 1 trip per week The Ebenezer Feed Delivery 1 trip per week

The average number of boat trips within the Tasman Farming Region would be 18 on weekdays and six on weekends and public holidays.

Working hours on the site will remain 0600 to 1900 in the summer and 0700 till 1700 in the winter. Security patrols may visit the site outside of these hours. These times will not change from the existing lease and zone arrangement.

There will be minimal change to amenity as a result of this proposal. Table 2 is based on a maximum year class input of 1.1 million smolt.

Table 2 Expected changes to amenity as a result of the proposed amendment Type Current Occurrence Predicted Future Occurrence Noise ~40 dBA day (~31 dBA night) ~40 dBA day (~31 dBA night) Harvesting 3-4 month period on and off 4 month period on and off Feeding 0600-1900 (in summer) 0600-1900 (in summer) Bathing 0-2 per day 0-2 per day Servicing the 6-7 vessels per day 6-8 vessels per day Proposed Lease

Whilst this proposal would allow flexibility around the number of fish held in the Tasman Farming Region, the production schedules will not change, i.e. fish will still be harvested around October to November and smolt inputs will still be in early-mid winter. Under this proposal, there will be no change to the use of sea cages as they are already housed at the Tasman Farming Region (i.e. 30 at Creeses Mistake and 10 at Parsons Bay).

The equipment (plant machinery, etc.) required to support this proposal will not change and will be the same as currently allowed. Whilst the intensity of noise emissions will not change, the duration of noise making activities may slightly increase. As with all Tassal marine operations, noise emissions will be maintained within Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 specified guidelines.

There may be an increase in bathing activity for the treatment of amoebic gill disease (AGD – see section 3.3.3) in the farming region to manage the period when all cages are stocked. However, with recent advances in Tassal’s selective breeding program, bathing frequency has declined by approximately 20% across production cycles. This frequency is expected to continue to decline as the selective breeding program continues to develop more resistance to AGD.

Smolt will be entered over a period of time and fallowing regimes can be maintained. If there is any evidence of environmental impact, management responses will be implemented in consultation with the Marine Farming Branch, as per licence conditions currently in place. Under the proposed amendment fish flows to the Parsons Bay lease will not significantly differ from those currently used. Smolt will continue to be entered to this site from early spring and throughout the winter months.

The management of biomass and stocking density will be closely managed with cage biomass splits and stock movements occurring as required out to the Creeses Mistake lease.

There is also the flexibility to introduce smolt directly to the Creeses Mistake lease at the eastern, more sheltered cage positions within the lease.

There is no plan to use the more sheltered Parsons Bay lease for longer periods of time under this proposal and the fallowing times at this more sensitive lease will not change between seasons.

There is a 26 m grey steel barge that contains the centralised feeding system and two noise mitigated 300 kVA generators and amenities for the work crew at the Creeses Mistake lease. The position of this barge is central to the mooring and feeding system. Waste from the amenities are pumped to a holding tank on the barge, and then collected by the service vessel for approved disposal on-shore. Parsons Bay lease is currently fed by a small dedicated feeding vessel.

As with all Tassal leases in Tasmania’s southeast, the salmon stock on the lease will periodically require bathing in freshwater to control gill amoeba. Bathing involves towing cages filled with freshwater contained in a tarpaulin liner, from the fill stations to the lease area. The fill stations used to service this lease area will depend on water availability, but the most likely resources to be used to service this lease will be the existing company dam infrastructure for this region.

Due to advances in the selective breeding program, Tassal now typically bathe on eight or less occasions during a lifecycle which equates to approximately 153 ML of freshwater per annum for the bathing of fish stocks at the Tasman Farming Region. The target of 5 bathes by 2018 will see this dependence on freshwater further reduce over time. This bathing reduction will be a key component of future offshore farming production sites.

Harvesting of the stock occurs directly onto Tassal’s harvest vessel. The fish are killed humanely using an automatic percussive stunning system, and immediately chilled in refrigerated sea water. The system is designed to minimise stress during the harvesting process and optimise the quality of the product.

The lighting of sea pens encourages growth at the smolt stage of development, and reduces the incidence of precocious maturation. The use of sub-surface lighting is dependent on the stage of development of the fish held on the lease at any given time. If sub-surface lighting is used, the standard configuration is nine 1000 W lights in each pen, either metal halide or LED. Typically they are deployed between June and November. The power source for these lights would be the generator housed on the moored feed barge at Creeses Mistake (which has been subject to a noise assessment under Tassal’s Noise Reduction Protocol (Tasman) or land based source at Badger Cove.

Security patrols may visit the site outside of these hours and spot lights are most likely to be utilised during these patrols. Corner marker lights are mandatory, and will be in place as they are currently at the existing leases; these lights are yellow and flash intermittently and are permanent fixtures.

3.2.3 Infrastructure Maintenance Maintenance Cage maintenance would normally be carried out in Prince of Wales Bay, Hobart, or on site at Parsons Bay.

Major net maintenance is carried out at Dover and at Port Huon, with minor repairs and inspections being carried out by divers at the region.

Routine vessel maintenance will continue to be carried out at Parsons Bay or Nubeena, and larger projects are carried out in North West Bay at Tassal’s marine operations head office.

The average lifespan of farming infrastructure is summarised as; Moorings 5 - 6 year replacement Nets 5 - 6 year replacement Cages 8 - 9 year replacement

As Tassal now uses in situ net washer technology on a routine basis, much of the pressure has been relieved from the land base used for net maintenance. This technology is also regularly used for net and rigging inspections. Bird nets are inspected daily.

Moorings are subject to periodic inspection by divers and/or remote operated vehicle (ROV), and additional inspections may be instigated following storm events.

Tassal’s third-party certification of systems and operations (ASC) includes maintenance/storage and disposal of farm supplies. Certification and auditing such as this ensures that the highest standard is met regarding the storage and disposal of farm supplies (fuels, chemicals and lubricants included). It also requires that waste is disposed of in a responsible manner, including recycling programs and waste reduction plans.

Disease management and equipment translocation Tassal has implemented a Farm Disease and Biosecurity Protocol, covering all aspects of marine operations for the company. The protocol introduces two biosecurity statuses: normal and red. Red is full damage control in response to a major fish loss due to infectious disease. A red status results in all resources being utilised to produce a coordinated response to minimise fish fatality and control the associated problems of disease spread to naïve stocks or regions. This is characterised by timely mitigation and mortality disposal and encompasses legislative requirements to notify government agencies as defined in the Australian Aquatic Veterinary Emergency Plan (AQUAVETPLAN).

As prescribed in the Tassal Farm Disease Management and Biosecurity Protocol, all hand and cage nets, cages, feeding barges, harvesting and farm equipment are to be disinfected before translocating to another biosecurity zone. This disinfection can be through the use of proprietary branded disinfection products and/or thorough cleaning of all equipment. Cross-contamination in transit and storage must also be considered when moving or storing equipment from different biosecurity zones.

3.3 Stock Husbandry Aspects

3.3.1 Fish Size / Stocking Density The species to be cultivated within the Tasman Farming Region will continue to be Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Stocking activities within the Tasman Farming Region will occur within the provisions of the region’s marine farming licences (see Appendix 1) and MFDP management controls.

Currently, stock held on Creeses Mistake are grown through to harvest at approximately 5 kg. The time the fish spend at sea is between approximately 14 and 18 months (a production cycle).

It is Tassal’s intention to manage smolt input within the broader, south east region based on the results of routine and broadscale environmental monitoring and the performance of key environmental indicators, allowing adaptive management to optimise fish health and performance, and overall environmental condition.

Stocking and fallowing would follow a rotational pattern, and be based on environmental performance supported by water quality and benthic condition surveys.

Maximum permitted stocking density under the Tasman Peninsula and Norfolk Bay MFDP is 15 kg/m3. This aligns with Tassal’s internal policy and is covered by its third party auditing program, as their minimum requirement is the same as the Tasman MFDP. This would not be affected by the proposed amendment.

3.3.2 Fish Feeding All stock are fed commercially extruded salmon feeds. Projected monthly feed amounts would vary according to water temperature, fish size, fish health, and harvest profile. Projected biological Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) for the grow-out cycle is 1.35.

Feeding will continue to occur through a centralised feed system, with the operator controlling the feeding remotely by computer using camera feedback.

Fish are fed strictly during daylight hours: Feeding Summer: Feeding occurs between 0700 and 1900 Winter: Feeding occurs between 0700 and 1700

Sediment monitoring is carried out during the Annual Video Survey as required by the Marine Farming Branch of DPIPWE. In addition Tassal also undertakes video monitoring in-house as part of the sustainable management of the Tasman Farming Region.

To date, Tassal has not breached any of its compliance requirements at the Tasman Farming Region. Numerous operational controls are in place to ensure that farm emissions are managed in a manner that allows the benthic environment to assimilate the loadings. This monitoring is conducted in-house, and has a number of checks built into the reporting procedure. Third party audits of Tassal’s systems and operations include marine operations and compliance reporting, adding another level of authentication.

3.3.3 Fish Health Tassal has a focus on proactive fish health management that has directed the need to improve the biophysical characteristics of Tassal’s existing marine leases and more effective utilization of all of Tassal’s appropriate, existing marine space. Maximising the utility of all of Tassal’s marine sites will allow for the operational flexibility required to support single year class stocking and smolt entry diversification without compromising fish volumes and Tassal’s markets.

In the Tasman Farming Region, Amoebic Gill Disease (AGD) is an important fish health challenge. However, it is well managed with Tassal’s AGD management plan and through the Selective Breeding Program. Tassal does not use chemicals or antiparasitics to manage AGD. Tassal began participating in a selective breeding program in 2006, based on the need for preferential selection of more robust fish exhibiting resistance to the attachment of the amoeba to the gills. With each year, there are gains made in reducing the impact of AGD and the necessity for freshwater bathing.

The future AGD management strategy will be focused on reducing the use of freshwater by the application of new technologies, coupled with the gains from the selective breeding program.

Pathogens found before 2010 were: Enteric Vibriosis (also known as Summer Gut Syndrome [SGS]), Yersiniosis and Rickettsiosis. These diseases have not been detected in the Tasman Farming Region in the last few years.

Harmful algal blooms (HAB) and jellyfish presence are constantly monitored through daily algal trawls and associated observational work carried out on site. Tassal organises both in-house and external training covering both these aspects along with fish health and biosecurity.

Salmon Orthomyxovirus (SOMV) is now known to be Pilchard Orthomyxovirus (POMV). Research into POMV as a pathogen and for diagnostic testing in collaboration with FRDC and DPIPWE are on-going. POMV is known to be carried by native pilchard populations, and it is suspected that mortality events are preceded by environmental stressors such as algal blooms.

Mortality was detected in two newly transferred 2013 year class pens in the Creeses Mistake lease. Clinical signs and gross lesions, although not severe, were consistent with POMV.

There was also a recent disease outbreak in Juvenile fish caused by POMV in October/November 2015. Once POMV was suspected, the site employed best- practice biosecurity principles to limit spread of disease to neighbouring leases and zones.

POMV is now a known cause of disease in salmonids in Tasmania, and further research is being conducted with the support of FRDC and DPIPWE to further understand the virus. Sporadic episodes of this disease in industry date back to 2006.

Medicated Feed Used at Tasman Farming Region (kg) 700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Figure 3 Quantity of medication administered to salmon stocks in the Tasman Farming Region from 2006 to September 2015

Figure 3 shows total medication usage per year in the Tasman Farming Region from 2006 to September 2015; there has been no medication used in the region since 2009. This medication was used against Enteric Vibriosis (SGS) as this disease was a major problem for the industry during the summer months from 2007 to 2009. Improved diet formulation is now utilised throughout the higher risk summer months alleviating the need for medication.

Any future use of medication will be in line with Tassal’s internal policy - antibiotics are never used prophylactically or for growth promotion. Any salmon that are treated with antibiotics go through a lengthy withdrawal period of 90-120 days to ensure all residues are cleansed from their system. Prior to harvest, any groups of salmon that have been treated are tested for residue. This complies with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code for residue levels (FSANZ 2013).

The reliance on medication for farmed fish has decreased due to increased focus and knowledge regarding fish health. This reliance is not expected to increase in the Tasman Farming Region.

Tassal’s Farm Disease Management and Biosecurity Protocol is designed to limit the transmission of existing or exotic pathogens between or within control regions as well as develop a proactive ‘hygiene culture’. The Protocol is based on a two-tiered system of alert depending on the disease status of individual pens, leases or regions, with changing actions and monitoring processes throughout the steps.

Tassal has also implemented a comprehensive South East Fish Health Management Plan (FHMP) which is a combination of compliance, best practice, and regulation through management controls and Marine Farming licence conditions with links to the (AQUAVETPLAN), and follows HACCP protocols. The FHMP identifies different Alert Status categories and Control Zones, and outlines standard procedures for minimising the risk of disease transfer, within and between Control Zones. Tassal possesses significant in-house capabilities and expertise within its dedicated fish health and environmental sections, and are able to mobilise and respond immediately to potential disease outbreaks. The FHMP is scheduled to be reviewed annually; however this will occur more frequently if required.

Tassal’s focus on disease monitoring and early detection places a high importance on incorporating stock inspections into routine farming activities such as mortality collection, weight checks and harvests. Tassal is also actively involved in the Tasmanian Salmonid Health Surveillance Program, which is a joint program between the Tasmanian Salmonid Industry and the Tasmanian Government. This program provides passive and active disease surveillance through regular submission of fish diagnostic samples and testing for specific disease agents of concern.

As a means of supporting its efforts in fish health optimisation, Tassal has implemented the Zero Harm to Fish Program; an internal auditing system for “best practice” husbandry, fish health and welfare. The Zero Harm target for survival is 91% in all regions, and the scorecard used for our internal measures offers a framework for continual improvement. Over the past year, Tassal’s Zero Harm program has yielded a cultural change in staff and has resulted in survival improvements across all farming regions.

3.3.4 Predator Control Australian and New Zealand Fur Seals are prime predators of salmon in marine farms. Effective exclusion methods continue to be the focus of managing interaction with potential predators of salmon stocks. Effective management of seal interactions is a matter of crucial importance for Tassal, as seal interaction with the company’s farms has the potential to impact on employee safety, environmental management practices, and seal and fish welfare. Under DPIPWE’s seal management protocols, Tassal can apply to the Department to relocate problem seals.

Tassal continues to deploy Kikko net technology as a method of predator exclusion at their leases. Kikko is exceptionally resistant to UV light, more macroalgae-resistant than other forms of netting and resists deterioration caused by sea water. Trials have proved it to be an effective control against seal predation. The use of Kikko nets dramatically reduces the need for rigging rope, with a Kikko net cage requiring 1440 m less rope than the equivalent monofilament net. This equates to an average decrease of approximately 34,560 m in rope usage per lease. Seal fences are also used on all Tassal cages to further inhibit seals from accessing salmon stock.

Birds also have the potential to impact fish health directly through predation, or intercepting feed pellets. Kikko nets are used in conjunction with seal proof bird nets (SPBN). The SPBN, developed by Tassal, has proven successful in preventing seals from entering a sea pen by means of an over the pen collar entry, whilst providing continued exclusion of birds.

Predator nets are not used by Tassal as they limit water movement through sea cages and create a wildlife entanglement risk. Instead, cage netting is heavily weighted to provide stiffness which protects against seal predation. Tassal has implemented a Wildlife Interaction Plan (WIP), covering all of their marine operations. The WIP not only meets the industry’s code of best practice, but also incorporates, but is not limited to EMPCA 1994, LUPA 1993, NCA 2002, EPBCA 1999, and the Aquatic Animal Welfare Guidelines, National Aquaculture Council 2004.

3.4 Waste Management

3.4.1 Solid Waste There will be no new solid waste streams as a result of the proposed amendment; however some existing waste streams originating from the farming region will increase. Solid waste streams are discussed below: Harvest Waste Solid waste and bloodwater from the harvest process are contained in the harvest vessel during harvest operations and delivered to the primary processing plant in Dover. Bloodwater is treated at Tassal’s Dover waste water treatment plant (WWTP), and fish gut and frames are then sent to an approved land-based rendering facility at Triabunna on Tasmania’s east coast.

The rendering facility at Triabunna is a newly developed Tassal operation. The plant will produce fish oil and fish meal, initially of an industrial grade, however, this will be refined to food grade over time. This product will be destined for the domestic market when the processing plant is commissioned, but will eventually enter the international market as well. Fish Mortalities As with any livestock operation, mortalities do occur, although mortalities at the Tasman Farming Region are generally low. Mortalities are collected in sealed fish bins and returned to the shore base where they are held in a refrigerated container until they are collected. Collection occurs at least once a week and are sent to the approved land-based rendering facility at Triabunna.

The volume of mortalities may change in line with any changes to smolt input, however, the frequency of mortality removal from the Tasman Farming Region (i.e. land base) will not increase as a result of the proposal.

Uneaten Feed Uneaten feed is minimised through the use of video camera feedback systems and additional tools such as pellet catching panels. Any pellets that do fall through the cages are detected in Tassal’s routine video surveys and the information is used to continuously improve feed management.

Generally, uneaten feed accounts for <1.5% of total feed input and is currently readily assimilated through benthic biological processes. Any potential adverse environmental impacts from the removal of Special Management Control 3.14.9 with respect to uneaten feed will similarly be observed though ROV underwater video monitoring surveys under the prescribed regulatory framework.

There is not expected to be any increase in the percentage of uneaten feed as a result of this proposal, however, the volume of uneaten feed will increase across the sites in the Tasman Farming Region.

Fish Faeces Fish faeces fall through the bottom of the cages and are deposited on the sea bed below. Video surveys enable Tassal to demonstrate that there is currently very little spread beyond the immediate vicinity of the cage. Currently cage positions are routinely fallowed on a rotational basis, and this would continue to be the case under the proposed amendment to allow biological processes in the sediment to process organic matter. This allows sediments to regenerate and recover in line with international best practice and current production cycling as at other Tassal leases.

An amended fallowing plan will be developed to accommodate varying smolt input numbers, and the results of environmental monitoring and an assessment of the environmental performance of the Tasman Farming Region (annual benthic compliance and ongoing water quality monitoring). Whilst benthic impacts are expected to be confined to directly below stocked pens, underwater ROV monitoring surveys will

continue to be used as the most effective means to observe any changes to the benthic environment, or to adjust fallowing regimes at the Tasman Farming Region.

If a maximum stocking scenario was to be used under the proposed amendment, the impact of fish faeces to the benthic environment would be limited to directly below sea cages. Any impacts would be managed within existing regulatory framework and certification requirements in relation to physical and chemical parameters and allowable zones of effects.

Solids Produced at Land Based Net-Wash Site As Tassal now use in-situ net washing technology, much of the pressure has been relieved from the land base used for net maintenance. The solid material from the cleaning of nets containing antifoulant is currently being disposed of as calcium based feedstock for cement manufacture. There are a variety of other disposal options also being investigated. There will not be any copper antifouled nets used at the farming region as Tassal has phased out the use of this treatment on nets for all of its farming operations.

There is no expected increase in solid wastes produced from the land based net washing facility resulting from this proposal.

3.4.2 Liquid Waste Black and grey water from the feed barge is collected in a waste tank which is routinely emptied by the service vessel. The waste is discharged to an approved disposal point on-shore.

Waste from in-situ net cleaning is deposited below the cages, and any impact monitored as part of Tassal’s routine video monitoring.

The in situ net cleaning process involves the physical removal of net fouling, comprising mainly of organic matter. The solids from this waste stream are directed back into the environment and can potentially settle on local sediments depending on currents and wave actions. All cages within the Tasman Farming Region, whether stocked or not, are regularly cleaned on a short term rotation. As there will be no change to the farming infrastructure, there will be no net change in emissions from in situ net cleaning in the Tasman Farming Region. With the company implementation of Kikko design nets across some farming regions in the past two years, there has been an observed decline in the frequency of net cleaning at the rate of 3:1 (i.e. the equivalent of three cleaning events for a monofilament net for every one cleaning event of a Kikko net). This has also reduced the need for land based net maintenance as these nets remain in the water for the entirety of their serviceable life.

This technology is also used for net and rigging inspections on a regular basis. Tassal is also investigating netwash capture technology (currently being investigated through collaborative international trials) to examine the feasibility for additional treatment of solid emissions from net cleaning activities. Copper antifoulant is no longer used on any of Tassal’s cage nets.

Land based cleaning will take place on the decommissioning of the Kikko nets prior to entering into a planned plastics recycling program. As the biofouling from the nets will be uncontaminated, it will also be recycled for agricultural use where possible.

3.4.3 Environmental Monitoring Annual benthic video monitoring will continue under Schedule 3V of the Marine Farming Licences and will continue to provide additional support to Tassal’s adaptive farming region management strategy. Internal ROV observational work will continue to be used as a management tool at these sites at both smolt and growout phases.

Rotational stocking and fallowing will occur under normal production cycles in relation to biomass splits, harvest schedules and year class fish movements. Pen bay positions will be fallowed following these transactions to allow sediments to periodically rest. This method of stocking and fallowing is used around the State at many Tassal sites and is in line with best practice farming techniques.

Any potential environmental impacts from removing Special Management Control 3.14.9 will be detected either through benthic video monitoring surveys (compliance and in-house) or monthly broadscale environmental monitoring (described below).

Tassal has conducted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) flow data recordings in a location adjacent to the Creeses Mistake lease (see section 5.1.1). This location is considered to be indicative of water movement across all three farming zones in this area of Wedge and Parsons Bays.

Daily checks of water temperature and oxygen levels are carried out, as well as daily phytoplankton checks. This data is critical to animal health and welfare and is important data for observing trends over time and building predictive modelling capability. Tassal has initiated an unknown algae response protocol, which includes the implementation of onsite microscope cameras, allowing unknown algal species to be photographed and emailed on for third party identification as soon as possible after detection.

Tassal also has dissolved oxygen logging devices installed at the farming region to collect data for future use in relation to trend analysis and development of a decision support system. Tassal has recently formed a business intelligence department that works closely with environmental and operations staff in order to develop these management systems for use in the future.

Furthermore, Tassal has undertaken voluntary environmental monitoring for water quality, nutrients and phytoplankton communities within the Tasman Farming Region. This monitoring program commenced in February 2014 and mirrors the BEMP water quality sampling regime in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Huon Estuary. To date, 20 monthly sampling events have been completed and the water quality and nutrient data from the four monitoring sites has undergone preliminary analysis to characterise ecosystem health of the water column, and compare the performance of individual sites. An environmental baseline has been established that will enable a comparison of water quality and nutrient parameters with current and future stocking levels. This,

and other data, will be used to set water quality limit levels in marine farming licences for the Tasman Farming Region.

Tassal has also commissioned independent scientists to undertake desktop and field studies of EPBC listed threatened species and communities within the Tasman Farming Region. As part of the study, a number of subtidal monitoring sites were established to monitor Giant kelp populations adjacent to the Creeses Mistake lease and in distant control sites located off Wedge Island. Surveys were undertaken in 2013 and 2015. Overall neither survey detected any major differences between sites adjacent to the lease at Creeses Mistake and the distant reference sites. A selection of these subtidal monitoring sites in the Tasman Farming Region are also included as reference sites for the current FRDC Project entitled “Understanding broadscale impacts of salmonid farming on rocky reef communities”. This project, which is focused on reef communities in south east Tasmania, will be completed in April 2016.

Tassal’s Quality Control Department also conducts a bimonthly water sampling program testing for thermotolerant coliforms, an accepted indicator of potential faecal contamination, and thus water quality (ANZECC 2000).

The extensive range of environmental monitoring activities undertaken within the Tasman Farming Region (both regulatory and voluntary) has supported sustainable farm management within the region, as evident by Tassal’s compliance record for the Tasman Farming Region.

Data obtained from Tassal’s environmental monitoring programs will be used to develop key environmental indicators and water quality limit levels to support this proposed amendment.

4 Stakeholder Consultation Tassal places an extremely high priority on stakeholder consultation, and it is built into strategy development and executive planning processes within the company. Tassal’s stakeholder engagement model is benchmarked against national and international salmon and other food industry producers, retailers and various Australian resource industries. Tassal will use its overarching, adaptive stakeholder engagement plan to underpin consultation regarding this proposed amendment.

In light of Tassal’s adaptive approach to stakeholder consultation, the nature of the proposed amendment and the comprehensive consultation undertaken recently as part of Draft Amendment No.2 to the Tasman Peninsula and Norfolk Bay MFDP; Tassal has conducted an abbreviated, focussed consultative process partnered with the fully executed DPIPWE statutory process.

Face-to-face stakeholder consultation has been undertaken with local government councillors representing the Tasman Council electorate and other relevant stakeholders. This is considered appropriate in the context of no potential impact to amenity resulting from this proposed amendment and the general absence of opposing representation to the recent amendment relating to Zone 14A in the Tasman Peninsula and Norfolk Bay MFDP.

No feedback has been received from the Tasman Councillors to indicate that they consider that further direct community consultation is required. In addition, during the recent consultations Tassal representatives spoke to the longer-term development plan for the area (Eastern Zone) including the proposed West of Wedge sites, a possible amendment of the Port Arthur site and the move to an overarching broadscale monitoring program.

Tassal has posted the full details of the proposed amendment on its website and established an online information page which will include provision of a phone number, email and postal address for anyone who has a question, concern or wishes to obtain more information or discuss the project.

5 Existing Environment

5.1 Environmental Conditions

5.1.1 Hydrology

Wedge Bay opens onto Storm Bay to the west and has a convoluted shoreline of rocky intertidal, and sandy beaches, with the bathymetry showing depth predominantly increasing with increasing distance from shore. The substrate is dominated by marine sediments, therefore has little relief, apart from an area of rocky reef which shallows around Wedge Island to the south.

Water movement in the bay is driven by a range of influences including, but not necessarily limited to;

• Wind driven surface currents. • Tidal influences • Oceanic wave (swell) exposure • Barometric pressure

5.1.1.1 Wind

At the mouth of Wedge Bay (43.136S 147.636E), a 30 year hindcast model of wind direction and speed shows the majority of winds are also from the north, through west to south west, with only a small portion of winds being from the east. This is consistent with the Wedge Bay being sheltered from easterly winds by the Tasman Peninsula (see Figure 4).

Figure 4 A 30 year hindcast model indicates winds at Wedge Bay are predominantly from the northern and western sectors.

Winds blowing from the west generate waves and wind driven surface currents which move relatively unimpeded into the open mouth of Wedge Bay. These surface currents are generally the highest velocity currents recorded by the ADCP, and they occur only in the upper layers of the water column, down to 6m depth.

5.1.1.2 Tidal Influences Tidal influences around Wedge Bay are thought to be relatively small. The mixed semi- diurnal tide has an approximate maximum range of 1.5m. The subscriber product Tidetech (www.tidetech.org) has previously modelled tidal circulation in the lower Derwent and Storm Bay, showing a general circulation pattern of predominantly clockwise water movement. Thus the semi-protected nature of Wedge Bay precludes it from large scale current flows attributable to tidal influences.

5.1.1.3 Swell Influences Wedge Bay is subject to swell from the Southern Ocean, primarily from the south, but also from westerly swells which refract around the southern tip of Tasmania and enter Storm Bay. Wedge Island offers some protection to outer Wedge Bay, and protection from swell increases further into Wedge and eventually Parsons Bay as the wave energy is dissipated along shorelines and the shallowing sea bed.

A 30 year hindcast model centred at position 43.136S 147.636E (see Figure 5) predicting wave heights and directions every 4 hours indicated a maximum significant

wave height of 6.18m, and a maximum combined sea and swell wave height in excess of 12m.

Figure 5 The wind and wave model location is not afforded the same level of protection from the south as the remainder of Wedge Bay.

The location for which the model was run is not afforded any protection from Wedge Island, and therefore is likely to over-estimate the significant and maximum wave heights which could reasonably be expected to occur in Wedge Bay, but would provide an indication of wave climate in the more exposed waters west of Wedge Island.

5.1.1.4 Barometric influences Tidal predictions in Tasmania are provided by the National Tidal Centre at Flinders University, and are based on the average barometric pressure in Tasmania being 1017hPa. For each hPa above 1017, the tide will be 1cm below the predicted height, while for each hPa below 1017, the tide will be 1cm above the predicted height.

Barometric pressures between 980hPa and 1035hPa are not uncommon in Tasmania, therefore the tide height can be influenced over 0.5m by the barometric pressure. In an open mouthed bay such as Wedge Bay, this variation in tide height is not expected to fundamentally change the current velocities or directions.

5.1.1.5 ADCP Data recording An ADCP was deployed in Wedge Bay, central to the current Creeses Mistake lease. The ADCP was mounted on the bottom facing upwards and measured current velocity and direction throughout the water column over a 6 week period.

The water column was divided into 10 depth bins of 2m each, with depth bin 1 being closest to the bottom (and the ADCP), and depth bin 10 being the surface waters.

The ADCP data clearly shows the differences between wind driven surface currents, which are generally faster and more variable in direction, and the slower water speeds in the deeper sections of the water column. Around 6m depth is the transition zone between the two water masses, and this can also clearly be seen in the data.

Rose plots of velocity and direction for each depth bin have been produced, along with cumulative frequency of velocity, and histograms of velocity and direction for each depth bin (see Appendix 2).

Current speeds recorded were up to 60cm/sec in the surface waters, but dropped to much lower velocities in the deeper waters. There was no strong directional flow indicated, however a general movement towards the east is noted in the upper parts of the water column. Bottom waters were found to significantly vary in direction.

5.1.2 Water Quality Wedge Bay is dominated by saline ocean waters from Storm Bay, and freshwater influences from Parsons Bay Creek, Stinking Creek, Badger Creek and Sucklings Creek.

In February 2014, Tassal commissioned an independent voluntary water quality monitoring program in the Tasman Farming Region, and established sampling stations in the vicinity of existing lease areas (i.e. Creeses Mistake and Parsons Bay), along with sites in sheltered waters (White Beach) and a more distant, exposed location west of Wedge Island (see Figure 6). The latter site represents a reference location where water quality characteristics are considered to be unaffected by coastal anthropogenic activities (i.e. land based run-off, wastewater treatment facilities and aquaculture feed inputs).

Figure 6 Map of water quality sampling sites at the Tasman Farming Region

The parameters studied in this monitoring program include nutrient concentration, physical water quality characteristics (i.e. temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen) and phytoplankton community assemblages. The range of analytes measured are summarised in Table 3. The analytes selected were consistent with those measured in the BEMP program in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Huon Estuary and reflect those parameters of significant relevance to the aquaculture industry.

Table 3 Water quality parameters included in the sampling program Component Analyte/Parameter Method Samples Physico-chemical • DO CTD Meter • Surface (~0.25 m) parameters • Temperature • 5 m • Salinity • Bottom (1 m above • pH seabed)

Nutrients • Ammonium Pole • Surface (~0.25 m) • Nitrate sampler/ • Bottom (1 m above • TN Niskin bottle seabed) • Phosphate • TP • Silicon

Phytoplankton • Chlorophyll-a Integrated • Integrated sample to a • Cell counts sampler depth of 12 m (one • Abundance/diversity sample per site).

The results of the water quality monitoring in the Tasman Farming Region (covering sampling events between February 2014 and October 2015) are shown in Appendix 3.

The following list provides summary of the results from water quality sampling between February 2014 and October 2015.

• Physico-chemical parameters. • Dissolved Oxygen: Consistent across all sites, with recorded observations ranging from 6.7 to 10.0 mg/L across all depths.

• Temperature: Showed an obvious seasonal pattern with highest values recorded in summer and lowest values recorded in winter. The maximum recorded temperature over the 21 sampling events occurred in January 2015 at Site NUB 1 (17.8°C), and the minimum recorded temperature over the same period occurred in August 2015 (8.9°C) at site NUB 3.

• Salinity: Was broadly consistent across all sampling sites and tended to be slightly lower at site NUB 1 (Parsons Bay) than at the more exposed oceanic site NUB 4 (West of Wedge). This decrease in salinity is likely to be a direct result of river inflows (albeit minor).

• Nutrients. • Ammonia: Levels at Nubeena for the period February 2014 – October 2015 generally showed broad consistency across sampling sites. Levels were generally low, with approximately 30% of results registering below the method detection limit (i.e. <0.005 mg-N/L). However, one observation recorded for the bottom water sample at site NUB 2 in June 2014 (0.052 mg-N/L), was elevated but appears to have been a “one-off” event.

• Nitrate: Levels were generally low, with approximately 35% of analytical results registering below the minimal reporting limit (i.e. <0.002 mg-N/L). Levels steadily increase in June and July of each year, and showed consistency across all sites. The highest nitrate levels were observed as a ‘spike’ during July - August 2014, presumably as a result of the influx of nutrient rich Southern Ocean water that is known to occur during winter. Nitrate levels declined markedly in spring 2014 and 2015 (apart from bottom water samples taken from the more exposed site NUB 4. This trend is likely to reflect the uptake of nutrients by phytoplankton, as there was a corresponding increase in phytoplankton communities present during September 2014 and August 2015.

• Total Nitrogen: Levels were consistent across sampling sites, with strong correlation observed for minimum, average and maximum values across all sites, apart from two isolated slightly elevated observations recorded at Parsons Bay in October and December 2014

• Phosphate: Levels at the Nubeena sites tended to show slight variation across sites, with observed “one-off” elevated reading obtained for a bottom water sample from site NUB 2 in June 2014, including the highest maximum value recorded (0.34 mg-N/L). Notwithstanding this event, average values across sampling sites showed strong consistency for both surface and bottom water phosphate concentrations.

o A slight decline in phosphate concentrations was observed for surface samples across all sites in spring 2014 and 2015 and is likely to be a result of nutrient uptake by seasonal phytoplankton activity.

• Total Phosphorus: Whilst total phosphorous levels showed broad agreement across sites NUB2, NUB 3 and NUB 4, Total phosphorus concentrations at site NUB 1 showed slightly elevated levels in bottom water samples in 2014. This obvious trend is reflected in mean bottom water concentrations that are higher than those recorded at each of the other sites. The cause of this higher total phosphorous level remains speculative and given that the same pattern was not evident in the dissolved phosphate data recorded at the same site, then it is likely to be an organic source of phosphorous possibly relating to impacts from coastal development and run-off into Parsons Bay from Parsons Bay Creek, Stinking Creek, Badger Creek and Sucklings Creek.

• Silicate: Levels were similar across most sampling sites, with strong correlation observed for minimum, average and maximum values across all sites except Site NUB 1, which was slightly elevated compared to other sites. Silicate concentrations generally peaked in late autumn- winter each year before declining over the spring months.

o The pattern of silicate decline is also likely to be attributable to run-off in winter, and phytoplankton activity, particularly diatoms, which were abundant during the September sampling events.

• Phytoplankton.

• Chlorophyll-a levels show broad consistency across sites, with concentrations increasing during late winter-early spring each year. The maximum value of chlorophyll-a concentration observed across the sampling period occurred in August 2015 at site NUB 4. The observed patterns of chlorophyll-a concentrations are consistent with recognised peaks in early spring and late autumn in many of Tasmania’s coastal waterways and bays.

• Patterns in chlorophyll-a abundance were also consistent with cell count data. Overall, 86 species of phytoplankton were recorded across the sampling period. Diatoms were the dominant taxonomic group recorded,

with Chaetoceros socialis and Skeletonema spp. accounting for approximately 37% % of cells counted.

5.2 Flora and Fauna

5.2.1 Marine Vegetation

As part of an FRDC funded project Understanding Broadscale Impacts of Salmonid Farming on Rocky Reef Communities, subtidal surveys of macroalgal communities were undertaken in the Tasman Farming Region. The macroalgal communities within the region are characteristic of the mixed algal (Phyllospora) assemblages observed along Tasmanian moderately exposed coastlines and sheltered open coast waters (Edgar 1984).

The following species were recorded during the subtidal surveys in the Tasman Farming Region in June 2015.

Macroalgal Species Phyllospora comosa Unidentified algae (turf) Unidentified algae (crustose Cystophora platylobium coralline) Peyssonnelia spp. (encrusting) Sonderopelta/Peyssonnelia Carpoglossum confluens Polysiphonia spp. Acrocarpia paniculata Xiphophora gladiata Ecklonia radiata Cystophora retroflexa Zonaria turneriana/angustata Halopteris paniculata Phacelocarpus peperocarpos Unidentified algae (geniculate coralline) Plocamium angustum Caulerpa flexilis Unidentified algae (foliose red) Caulocystis cephalornithos Sargassum fallax Gelidium spp. Rhodymenia spp. Ptilota hannafordii Durvillaea potatorum Ulva spp. Macrocystis pyrifera Unidentified algae (encrusting brown) Polyopes constrictus Caulerpa simpliciuscula Perithalia caudata Cystophora monilifera Ballia callitricha Lenormandia marginata Bare rock (non - barrens) Laurencia spp. Chaetomorpha spp. Pollexfenia lobata Cystophora moniliformis Callophyllis rangiferina Plocamium dilatatum Caulerpa spp. (rhizomes)

5.2.2 Benthic Fauna In and around the Tasman Farming Region, the substrate is dominated by partially buried New Zealand screw shells (Maoricolpus roseus). This was the most abundant species in the IMAS survey conducted in June 2013 for Draft Amendment Number 2. There were infrequent occurrences of scallops (Pecten fumatus?), large crabs (sp?), and small sponges (sp?).

For full details of the IMAS survey, see Table 1 in Appendix 7.

5.2.3 Fish Four individual fish were observed in the IMAS survey. They were: two wrasse (Labridae), one stingaree (thought to be Urolophus cruciatus), and one Banded stingaree (Urolophus cruciatus).

For full description of the locations of these fish, refer to the IMAS report, Appendix 7.

5.2.4 Birds Habitats exist within the Tasman Farming Region for a variety of bird species (including sea birds). Common birds in the Storm Bay area are summarised in Table 4. These birds have the potential to transit the Tasman Farming Region.

BirdLife Tasmania has been conducting and coordinating bird surveys in south east Tasmania for many years and the following information (contained in Figure 7) is from their database.

Figure 7 Map showing survey locations for seabirds recorded in “Storm Bay”* * “Storm Bay” is defined here as a polygon with vertices at (a) Iron Pot, (b) Cape Queen Elizabeth, (c) Cape Raoul and (d) North-west Head. Survey points outside the 5km radius are shown in blue.

Table 4 Seabirds recorded in “Storm Bay” in the BirdLife Tasmania database. “Storm Bay” is defined here as a polygon with vertices at (a) Iron Pot, (b) Cape Queen Elizabeth, (c) Cape Raoul and (d) North-west Head. Scientific name Common name

Chlidonias hybridus Whiskered Tern Daption capense Cape Petrel Diomedea exulans Wandering Albatross Eudyptes chrysocome Rockhopper Penguin Eudyptula minor Little Penguin Fregetta tropica Black-bellied Storm-Petrel Garrodia nereis Grey-backed Storm-Petrel Larus dominicanus Kelp Gull Larus novaehollandiae Silver Gull Larus pacificus Pacific Gull Macronectes halli Northern Giant Petrel Morus serrator Australasian Gannet Pachyptila belcheri Slender-billed Prion Pachyptila turtur Fairy Prion Pelecanoides urinatrix Common Diving-Petrel Pelecanus conspicillatus Australian Pelican Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant

Scientific name Common name

Phalacrocorax fuscescens Black-faced Cormorant Phalacrocorax melanoleucos Little Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris Little Black Cormorant Phoebetria fusca Sooty Albatross Phoebetria palpebrata Light-mantled Sooty Albatross Pterodroma lessonii White-headed Petrel Pterodroma macroptera Great-winged Petrel Puffinus assimilis Little Shearwater Puffinus gavia Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus griseus Sooty Shearwater Puffinus huttoni Hutton's Shearwater Puffinus tenuirostris Short-tailed Shearwater Stercorarius longicaudus Long-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus Arctic Jaeger Sterna bergii Crested Tern Sterna caspia Caspian Tern Sterna nereis Fairy Tern Sterna striata White-fronted Tern Thalassarche bulleri Buller's Albatross Thalassarche cauta Shy Albatross Thalassarche chlororhynchos Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalassarche chrysostoma Grey-headed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche steadi White-capped Albatross Thalassoica antarctica Antarctic Petrel

5.2.5 Marine Mammals Whilst dolphins and seals are frequently observed within Wedge and Storm Bays, whales, such as the Southern Right Whale, are less frequent visitors, usually during their spring calving events (Edgar 2008).

Australian fur seals are common in the area. Other seals sighted include the New Zealand fur seal (listed as rare under the Threatened Species Protection Act [TSPA]), and on rare occasions, Southern elephant seals, Antarctic fur seals, Leopard seals and Australian sea lions have been sighted on Tasmanian beaches (DPIPWE 2015). Table 5 below lists the marine mammal species that are known to occur within the Tasman Farming Region and surrounding areas, or where their preferred habitat also occurs.

Table 5 Marine mammals that may be found in the vicinity of the Tasman Farming Region Scientific name Common name Eubalaena australis Southern Right Whale Megaptera novaeangliau Humpback Whale Delphinus delphis Common dolphin Tursiops truncatus Bottlenose dolphin Arctocephalus pusillus Australian fur seal Arctocephalus forsteri New Zealand fur seal Arctocephalus tropicalis Subantarctic fur seal Mirounga leonina Southern elephant seal Neophoca cinerea Australian sea lion

5.2.6 Threatened Species Listed threatened and migratory species under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBCA) and TSPA that have been identified within the project area or where the species, or species habitat may occur in areas surrounding the project area are provided below in Table 6. These species have been selected on the basis of their inclusion in:

• the Australian Government’s online EPBC Protected Matters Report

• the Tasmanian Government’s Natural Values Atlas

• the Tasmanian Government’s online list of Threatened Species. For both the EPBC Protected Matters Report, and the report generated using the Tasmanian Natural Values Atlas, buffers of 5 km from the Tasman Farming Region were adopted to ensure adequate coverage across the project area and similar habitats where migratory species are likely to occur, breed, or where listed threatened or migratory species are known to forage for food.

Table 6 Listed Threatened and Migratory species and communities under the EPBCA and TSPA within 5 km of the Tasman Farming Region. Threatened Ecological Communities

Name EPBC Status Type of Presence

Giant Kelp Marine Forests of South East Australia Endangered Community likely to occur within area Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania Critically Endangered Community likely to occur within area

Listed Threatened Species

Birds