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Ref:524/03 |
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AUSTRALIA
- Jan 30, 2003 |
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Fish investors confident |
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Fish investors confident
By Stan Gorton
Thursday, 30 January 2003
THE proponents of what
would be the first fin-fish farm on the West Coast say
allegations about the negative impacts of kingfish farms are
unfounded and could jeopardise what they say will be a
well-managed boost to local economies.
Hamachi Ocean Culture spokesman Scott Kempe said a new
location for the sea cages was in the relatively deep waters
in the Yalata shipping channel north of Goat Island, while
the hatchery would be located at the old jetty site at
Elliston. |
TALKING TECHNOLOGY: Hamachi Ocean Culture partner Scott
Kempe discusses sea cage design with Diesel Marine Services’
Robert Young (left) at the Port Lincoln shipyard. New
pontoons featuring stainless steel link mesh and filtration
systems are in the pipeline for the proposed kingfish farm
off Ceduna |
The company recently held a
public meeting in Ceduna to answer questions of those
critical of the fish farm, which was now proposed for near
Ceduna following concerns about a nearby sea lion colony at
the initial proposed location at Sceale Bay.
The proponents were confident the new site was the best
location for kingfish farming.
"Throughout our consultation period to date no issue has
come to light that we were not aware of and had not prepared
for," Mr Kempe said.
"All issues of concern are addressed through licencing and
management controls through PIRSA (Primary Industries and
Resources SA) or through separate direct fishing controls
through Fisheries SA."
Hamachi says it will use state-of-the-art technology such as
stainless steel link mesh and special filtration systems on
its cages and is consulting with Port Lincoln company Diesel
Marine Services to design and build the sea cages.
"The plant and equipment will be new age products sourced
globally and manufactured and assembled locally," Mr Kempe
said.
"Our commitment to world's best practice and quality
assurances has enabled the research and development process
to allow a due diligence investigation that is the complete
package."
PIRSA Aquaculture general manager Ian Nightingale said
Hamachi had received approval for its previous site at
Sceale Bay, but would now need to submit additional studies
and surveys relating to the new site.
"Our assessment will look at a general range of
environmental sustainability issues - is it the right
place?" Mr Nightingale said.
Once PIRSA Aquaculture gives its interim approval or
"indication of licence" the proposal then goes to the State
planning authority known as the Development Assessment
Commission, which would be responsible for public
notification and reviewing the arguments for and against, he
said.
If the commission grants approval, then PIRSA would grant a
pilot licence that would initially be renewed on an annual
basis.
Mr Nightingale said it was up to the applicant to determine
their practices and equipment, but he had heard of stainless
steel link mesh cages being used elsewhere in the world.
The criticism of the farm at the recent public meeting
seemed to be levelled at fish farming in general and PIRSA
was present to hand out a list of answers to frequently
asked questions about kingfish aquaculture, he said.
While the kingfish would be farmed off Ceduna, Hamachi is
sticking with its plan to build a hatchery and other
facilities at Elliston.
Elliston District Council acting chief executive officer
Hayden Manhood said the council had been very frustrated as
the project was first mooted more than five years ago, but
acknowledged that much of the delay and controversy over
Sceale Bay was "out of its hands".
Despite some concerns from the community about the
suitability of the site for an industrial use, the council
approved the development and has a standing lease
arrangement to make available the old jetty site to Hamachi,
he said.
"The economic activity associated with the development is a
major reason why approval was granted," Mr Manhood said.
Ceduna mayor Peter Duffy said many of 100 or so people that
attended the recent community meeting in Ceduna just wanted
more information, and he predicted that opposition to the
proposal would decline once details of the proposal were
revealed.
He noted that there was strong opposition when the region's
oyster farms were first proposed, and that "fear of the
unknown" was the main reason for concern.
"This is something new and while the industry may have had
some teething problems elsewhere PIRSA will have to be
satisfied that everything is in order," Mr Duffy said.
Such visible support from both the Ceduna and Elliston
councils was heartening for Hamachi proponents Mr Kempe and
his two partners, both West Coast residents.
They pointed out that the proposal could see as many 30
people employed both on land and at sea and that benefits
would flow on to many sectors in the community.
"The trend is and must be to aquaculture," Mr Kempe said.
"The fishing industry is the only food production industry
that allows its natural resource base to be harvested and,
while the change cannot be overnight, it will change from a
natural resource harvesting base to a stock managed,
husbandry orientated aquaculture base." |
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