The Tasmanian salmon industry is Tasmania’s largest primary industry and makes a considerable contribution to the seafood sector in Tasmania and nationally. The industry operates under a diverse array of laws, regulations and strategies and involves businesses which operate from local to global scales. Tasmania’s primary industries, including salmon, are managed under Tasmania’s Resource Management and Planning System, which is based on the principles of sustainable development.
In September 2021, the Tasmanian Government embarked on a process to develop a new long-term salmon plan, building on the strong foundation and demonstrable improvements in practices and regulation achieved through the 2017 Industry Growth Plan for the Salmon Industry. That process involved extensive public and industry consultation that was undertaken in conjunction with the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre. More than 1200 submissions were received on the Discussion paper and Draft Plan, reflecting significant public interest in the future of aquaculture in Tasmania.
The 2023 Tasmanian Salmon Industry Plan (the Plan) was launched on May 1, 2023. The Plan is an enduring strategic framework to support an innovative and sustainable salmon industry in Tasmania, which meets expectations of the community. It guides the Government’s long-term priorities for the salmon industry – being responsive to the changing needs of salmon farmers, supporting businesses and the wider community.
The Plan has four inter-related priority outcomes: Priority outcome 1: Sustainable industry Priority outcome 2: Healthy ecosystems Priority outcome 3: Prosperous communities Priority outcome 4: Contemporary governance There are 21 strategic pathways, aligned to the priority outcomes, that represent activity areas for delivery in the near, medium and longer term.
This presentation outlines the process under which the plan was developed and describes key implementation priorities that are relevant to other aquaculture regulators.