Western Australia’s first aquaculture development zone has been recommended for approval by the Environmental Protection Authority.
The 2000 hectare Kimberley Aquaculture Development Zone (KADZ) within Cone Bay will have a maximum production capacity of 20,000 tonnes per year of marine finfish which naturally occur within the Pilbara and Kimberley Region.
The KADZ proposal was referred by the Department of Fisheries on behalf of the Minister for Fisheries to be assessed as a Strategic Proposal, at the level of Assessment on Proponent Information (API).
EPA Chairman Paul Vogel said the creation of a Zone would allow for sustainable development and for any potential cumulative impacts to the environment to be managed more effectively, with future aquaculture operators able to refer proposals to the EPA for consideration as derived proposals.
“Assessing the Zone as a Strategic Proposal means that the EPA is able to assess the cumulative impacts of future aquaculture projects, rather than assessing impacts on a case by case basis as individual aquaculture projects are received, or as expansion of existing operations occurs,” Dr Vogel said.
Dr Vogel said the proposal could be managed to meet the EPA’s environmental objectives, subject to a suite of conditions.
“The proponent will ensure that the proposal causes no irreversible loss of benthic communities and will implement monitoring and management plans to achieve the levels of ecological protection set out in the recommended conditions,” he said.
Dr Vogel said recommended conditions also stipulated the proponent must report, investigate and implement mitigation measures if levels of ecological protection are not being met.
The EPA’s report to the Minister for Environment is now open for a two-week public appeal period, closing March 4, 2014.
Appeals can be made at www.appealsconvenor.wa.gov.au
The Minister for Environment will make the final decision.
EPA Report 1504 is available at www.epa.wa.gov.au
Media Contacts: Nadia Miraudo, Fiona Adolph 0400 866 450
