EPA extends Tassal's Long Bay salmon farm lease despite local environmental worries

Tasmania's Environment Protection Authority approved a two-year renewal for Tassal's salmon lease at Long Bay near Port Arthur, even as residents voiced concerns about nutrient runoff and seagrass loss.

The Tasmanian Environment Protection Authority granted Tassal a two-year extension for its Long Bay salmon operation, situated in a shallow inlet close to the historic Port Arthur site, despite ongoing community objections. EPA monitoring found elevated ammonia and nitrogen near the pens during summer, but these levels dropped quickly once the cages were emptied, and overall nutrient-related water-quality impacts were deemed insignificant.

Algal growth was attributed mainly to shallow-water temperature effects rather than farm emissions, and the presence of nuisance algae remained low and unchanged from 2021 to 2025. The agency highlighted insufficient baseline data for the inshore reef and limited information on seagrass responses, urging further research and comparative studies with adjacent bays. Over 80 submissions, led by the Tasmanian Independent Science Council, challenged the renewal, citing poor flushing and questioning the monitoring design.

Tassal praised the EPA’s decision as providing operational certainty and praised the thoroughness of the review. Environmental groups and the Tasmanian Greens continued to dispute the findings and call for a precautionary approach.