In response to the imminent threat of oxygen depletion in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour jeopardizing the existence of the Maugean skate, the salmon farming industry and the federal government have collaborated to initiate a groundbreaking “nano bubbles” trial. The $7 million, two-year project, jointly funded by Salmon Tasmania and the Commonwealth through the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC), is set to commence next month.
A diesel-powered generator on a specialized barge will play a pivotal role in drawing up low-oxygen water from the harbour. This water will then be enriched with highly concentrated bubbles of oxygen before being pumped back into the depths of the harbour at 30 to 40 meters. The aim is to address the critical oxygen levels and safeguard the Maugean skate population.
The trial comes in the wake of Australia’s Threatened Species Commissioner Fiona Fraser’s assertion that Macquarie Harbour’s degradation is largely attributed to salmonid aquaculture. Despite Commonwealth conservation advice recommending a significant destocking of salmon farms by this summer as the quickest solution to improve oxygen levels, the trial is proceeding instead.
Tasmanian Labor senator Anne Urquhart expressed optimism about the trial, stating that it will determine the feasibility of oxygenation in Macquarie Harbour. She emphasized the need to strike a balance between protecting the Maugean skate and sustaining a robust salmon industry that contributes to the local and state economy.
The Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) at the University of Tasmania will design the innovative system and oversee the trial, which will be executed by Salmon Tasmania. The results of the trial will be reported to both the Commonwealth and Tasmania’s Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to assess its effectiveness and potential scalability.
Notably, all three major salmon companies in Tasmania—Tassal, Petuna, and Huon Aquaculture, owned by JBS—operate within Macquarie Harbour.
