00:00At Cremorne Beach, hundreds of people gather with a message for salmon company Petunia.
00:10They say the industry will threaten the environment and impact the amenity of the local area.
00:15It's just so sad that people are even thinking to it here.
00:19Salmon farms shouldn't be out on the water, they should be inland.
00:22Petunia already has approval to operate in Storm Bay, but new biosecurity rules mean
00:27it has to split up its existing lease and it's proposing to move some of its pens up
00:32the bay closer to residents.
00:34It is 7km away from some of the shore communities, it's 4km away from the nearest residents.
00:42The opposition leader expressed support for the industry as he took in the sights and
00:46the smells of a salmon processing facility on the state's east coast.
00:51I want to see next generations of Tasmanians employed in what is not just the most sustainable
00:57world, but one of the cleanest industries in the world.
01:00Peter Dutton's visit comes as the Federal Environment Minister continues to assess whether
01:05salmon farming at Macquarie Harbour should be reconsidered, amid concerns about the fate
01:11of the Morgean Skate.
01:13Mr Dutton says he would allow salmon farming to continue there, regardless of whether the
01:18skate's status is uplisted from endangered to critically endangered.
01:23We will not be stopping salmon farming, in fact I want to see salmon farming grow in Tasmania.
01:28The Federal Government recently allocated $28 million to improve water quality in Macquarie
01:34Harbour and continue a skate breeding program.
01:37We can have salmon and we can have the environment, we can have both.
01:41With a Federal election on the horizon, salmon farming could be a key factor in deciding
01:47which party triumphs in the Tasmanian seats that are up for grabs.
Comments