Environmental Impact Statement to accompany the Draft Amendment No. 3 to the Storm Bay off Trumpeter Bay North Bruny Island, Marine Farming Development Plan, July 1998 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT TO ACCOMPANY THE DRAFT AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO THE STORM BAY OFF TRUMPETER BAY NORTH BRUNY ISLAND MARINE FARMING DEVELOPMENT PLAN, JULY 1998 Prepared by: Huon Aquaculture Company Pty Ltd Huon Aquaculture Company Trumpeter EIS Storm Bay MFDP 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS GLOSSARY ……………...………………………………………...………….....XII 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................ I 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................... 1 2.1 Proposed Amendment Description .............................................. 1 2.2 Stakeholder Consultation ............................................................. 2 2.3 Existing Environment ................................................................... 3 2.4 Potential Effects and Their Management ..................................... 3 2.5 Summary of Effects and Their Management ................................. 6 2.6 Conclusion ................................................................................... 7 3 PROPOSED AMENDMENT DESCRIPTION ........................................... 8 3.1 Proposal overview ....................................................................... 8 3.1.1 Proponent Details.............................................................................................. 8 3.1.2 Proposed Development ..................................................................................... 9 3.1.3 Rationale / Need for the Proposal .................................................................. 13 3.1.4 Anticipated Establishment Costs ..................................................................... 18 3.1.5 Existing and Likely Markets for Product .......................................................... 18 3.1.6 Relationship to other Proposals/Developments ............................................. 19 3.1.7 Socio-Economic Benefits ................................................................................. 19 3.2 Proposed Plan Area .................................................................... 24 3.2.1 Proposed changes to plan area ....................................................................... 24 3.3 Proposed Zone and Lease Details ............................................... 25 3.3.1 Location of Proposed Zone .............................................................................. 25 3.3.2 Proposed Zone Area ........................................................................................ 25 3.3.3 Location of Proposed Lease ............................................................................ 30 3.4 Infrastructure and Servicing ....................................................... 34 3.4.1 Mooring and Grid system ................................................................................ 34 3.4.2 Size and Configuration of Sea Pens/Netting ................................................... 38 3.4.3 Construction Aspects ....................................................................................... 40 i Huon Aquaculture Company Trumpeter EIS Storm Bay MFDP 3.4.4 Servicing the Proposed Zones ......................................................................... 41 3.4.5 Infrastructure Maintenance ............................................................................ 47 3.5 Stock Husbandry Aspects ........................................................... 48 3.5.1 Fish Size / Stocking Density ............................................................................. 48 3.5.2 Fish Feeding..................................................................................................... 49 3.5.3 Fish Health and Biosecurity ............................................................................. 51 3.5.4 Predator Control .............................................................................................. 53 3.6 Waste Management ................................................................... 54 3.6.1 Solid Waste ..................................................................................................... 54 3.6.2 Liquid Waste.................................................................................................... 56 3.6.3 Environmental Monitoring .............................................................................. 57 3.7 Decommissioning and Rehabilitation ......................................... 57 4 STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION ....................................................... 59 4.1 Stakeholder Engagement Activities ............................................ 59 4.1.1 Stakeholders identified ................................................................................... 59 4.1.2 Stakeholder engagement activities by segment ............................................. 60 4.1.3 Community engagement outcomes ............................................................... 65 4.1.4 Further consultation and engagement ........................................................... 76 5 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT .................................................................... 77 5.1 Environmental Conditions .......................................................... 80 5.1.1 Bathymetry ...................................................................................................... 80 5.1.2 Substrates ....................................................................................................... 81 5.1.3 Hydrology ........................................................................................................ 82 5.1.4 Water Quality .................................................................................................. 88 5.1.5 Sediments ...................................................................................................... 111 5.1.6 Geoconservation Sites ................................................................................... 113 5.1.7 Wind and Wave Conditions ........................................................................... 114 5.2 Flora and Fauna ........................................................................119 5.2.1 Marine Vegetation ........................................................................................ 119 ii Huon Aquaculture Company Trumpeter EIS Storm Bay MFDP 5.2.2 Benthic Fauna ............................................................................................... 119 5.2.3 Fish ................................................................................................................ 119 5.2.4 Birds .............................................................................................................. 120 5.2.5 Marine Mammals .......................................................................................... 122 5.2.6 Threatened Species ....................................................................................... 123 5.3 Reservations .............................................................................128 5.3.1 World Heritage Areas.................................................................................... 128 5.3.2 Ramsar sites .................................................................................................. 128 5.3.3 Marine Reserves ............................................................................................ 129 5.3.4 National Parks ............................................................................................... 129 5.3.5 Other Conservation Areas ............................................................................. 129 5.4 Land Planning Aspects ...............................................................129 5.4.1 Land Tenure ................................................................................................... 129 5.4.2 Land Zoning ................................................................................................... 131 5.4.3 Land Use ........................................................................................................ 133 5.5 Maritime Aspects ......................................................................133 5.5.1 Commercial shipping ..................................................................................... 133 5.5.2 Recreational boating ..................................................................................... 133 5.5.3 Commercial fishing ........................................................................................ 136 5.5.4 Recreational fishing ...................................................................................... 136 5.5.5 Recreational activities ................................................................................... 138 5.6 Heritage ....................................................................................138 5.6.1 Aboriginal Heritage ....................................................................................... 138 5.6.2 European and Other Heritage ....................................................................... 138 5.7 Social and Economic Description ...............................................140 5.7.1 Population ..................................................................................................... 140 5.7.2 Economic ......................................................................................................