Marine Aquaculture Research Lease Providence Bay, Port Stephens NSW Environmental Impact Statement Prepared By: Hester Bushell BSc (Marine Science and Management) and Aquaculture Management Unit (NSW Department of Primary Industries) Prepared For: NSW Department of Primary Industries Port Stephens Fisheries Institute Taylors Beach Road, Taylors Beach NSW 2316 October 2012 Cover Image: Yellowtail Kingfish in a research tank at PSFI (Source: NSW DPI, 2008). © State of New South Wales through Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services 2012. This publication is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in an unaltered form only (retaining this notice) for your personal use or for non-commercial use within your organisation. To copy, adapt, publish, distribute or commercialise any of this publication you will need to seek permission from the Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services. For updates to this publication, check www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries. Published by the NSW Department of Primary Industries, a part of the Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services. First published October 2012 ISBN: 978 1 74256 365 7 DISCLAIMER The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing (September 2012). However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information on which they rely is up to date and to check the currency of the information with the appropriate officer of the NSW Department of Primary Industries or the user’s independent advisor. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT CERTIFICATION Prepared by Hester Bushell BSc (Marine Science and Management) Ian Lyall BSc (Marine Biology – Zoology) Graeme Bowley Dip App Sci (Agriculture), BAppSci (Parks Recreation & Heritage) NSW Department of Primary Industries Aquaculture Management Unit Port Stephens Fisheries Institute Taylors Beach Road, Taylors Beach NSW 2316 Applicant NSW Department of Primary Industries Port Stephens Fisheries Institute Taylors Beach Road, Taylors Beach NSW 2316 Proposed development Under the State Environmental Planning Policy (State and Regional Development 2011) the proposal is classified as State Significant Infrastructure (c.14 (1)(b) and Schedule 3 (1)(1)) and requires approval from the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure under s.115W of the Environmental and Planning Assessment Act 1979. Certification We certify that we have prepared this EIS in accordance with the Director-General’s Requirements and to the best of our knowledge the information contained in this EIS is neither false nor misleading. Ian Lyall Hester Bushell Graeme Bowley Project Director Project Manager Project Manager Marine Aquaculture Research Lease, Providence Bay, Port Stephens, NSW – EIS. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Overview NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) proposes to develop a 20 hectare Research Lease 4 km off Hawks Nest, NSW for a period of five years. Floating sea cages anchored to the seafloor would be used to research marine finfish aquaculture in an offshore sea cage trial. The research will allow the NSW Government to extend its successful marine hatchery research at Port Stephens Fisheries Institute (PSFI). Key outcomes of this research would include: proving species suitability, validating equipment and technology, and monitoring the marine environment. The NSW Government recognises the need to look at opportunities for sustainable and viable aquaculture development that is built upon sound research. Aquaculture supports the regional economies of NSW and will be an increasingly important contributor to the future food security needs of the State. Rationale Global demand for seafood is rapidly expanding and seafood consumption per capita is increasing. In 2008, 46% of the seafood consumed worldwide was produced by aquaculture (FAO, 2010). In NSW the supply of locally caught fish is not expected to increase from current sustainable catch levels and approximately 87% of seafood purchased in NSW is imported (Wilkinson, 2004). Sustainable seafood production is a key focus of the NSW Government’s State Aquaculture Steering Committee to support future demands of food security for the state. The gap between capture fishery supply and the growing demand for seafood can only be supplied by aquaculture. Aquaculture is a relatively new food production sector in NSW with a history of strong research and development support from NSW DPI (formerly NSW Fisheries). PSFI has been working in marine finfish research since the early 1990s and Snapper (Pagrus auratus) sea cage farming research commenced in the inshore waters of Botany Bay in 1993. Successful hatchery and nursery research for Mulloway (Argyrosomus japonicus), Yellowtail Kingfish (Serioli lalandi) and other marine finfish also needs to be extended and validated in sea cages trials. The proposed site for the Marine Aquaculture Research Lease (Research Lease) off Port Stephens is in close proximity to PSFI which has suitable fish rearing and land based infrastructure. The proposed site also has suitable characteristics for cage based aquaculture (e.g. water quality, sandy bottom and moderate current flow), NSW Department of Primary Industries – October 2012 i Marine Aquaculture Research Lease, Providence Bay, Port Stephens, NSW – EIS. there is a history of finfish farming in the area and the harbour infrastructure of Nelson Bay is a suitable land-water interface for the project. Port Stephens is a key location in NSW for aquaculture research and the commercial production of oysters, barramundi, silver perch, freshwater crayfish and hatchery stock. Approvals Pathway Under State Environmental Planning Policy (State and Regional Development 2011) the proposal is classified as State Significant Infrastructure (Clause 14 (1)(b) and Schedule 3 (1)(1)) and requires approval from the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure under Section 115W of the Environmental and Planning Assessment Act 1979. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been prepared to accompany the application for approval. Crown Lands have provided land holders consent to NSW DPI to lodge the application. A lease is required under the Section 163 of the Fisheries Management Act 1994 and a permit is required under the Marine Parks Act 1997. The proposed Research Lease is located in a Habitat Protection Zone of the Port Stephens Great Lakes Marine Park and is a permissible activity in this zone. Strategic Framework The promotion of sustainable aquaculture was prioritised at the NSW Executive Food Security Group in 2011. This group tasked the government’s State Aquaculture Steering Committee to progress initiatives to further develop aquaculture. Under State Environmental Planning Policy – 62 (Sustainable Aquaculture), two strategies have been prepared to guide the development of aquaculture in NSW and promote industry best practice. They include the NSW Oyster Industry and Land Based Sustainable Aquaculture Strategies. The investigations conducted on the Research Lease in Providence Bay will provide an evidence base for the development of policy for sustainable aquaculture in the marine waters of NSW. The Proposal The proposed Research Lease will provide an opportunity for NSW DPI and research partners to extend successful marine hatchery research to its next stage in an offshore sea cage trial. It is proposed that the trial will operate for five years (from the date that the aquaculture lease is granted) to validate the commercial potential of a number of marine finfish species that occur along the NSW coast, to trial the latest sea cage technologies and undertake environmental monitoring in the coastal waters of NSW. NSW Department of Primary Industries – October 2012 ii Marine Aquaculture Research Lease, Providence Bay, Port Stephens, NSW – EIS. The Research Lease would occupy an area of 20 hectares (approximately 370 x 530 m) in Providence Bay, Port Stephens (Figure 1). The main infrastructure will consist of an anchoring and bridle system to accommodate up to eight floating double collared sea cages. The cages may range in size (18-40 m diameter) depending on the number and size of the cultured fish. Also navigation buoys will be positioned on the corners of the lease area. Figure 1: Location of the proposed Research Lease in Providence Bay, Port Stephens (Source: NSW DPI, 2012). Risk Assessment and Mitigation A risk assessment process based on the National ESD Reporting Framework: The ‘How To’ Guide for Aquaculture was used to identify and mitigate potential risks associated with the proposal. A total of 27 risk issues were identified and categorised that had potential to have an impact as a result of the proposal. These risks were identified in either the construction stage or the operational stage of the Research Lease. Eleven issues were identified as representing a ‘negligible’ risk while 12 issues were assigned a ‘low’ risk ranking. No issues were identified as representing a ‘high’ or ‘extreme’ risk but four were classified as ‘moderate’, including: impacts on marine habitats - water quality, nutrient concentrations and sedimentation; chemical use; NSW Department of Primary Industries – October 2012 iii Marine Aquaculture Research Lease, Providence Bay, Port Stephens, NSW – EIS. disease and introduced pests; and impacts on migratory pathways, behavioural changes and predatory interactions. These classifications indicate that these issues