Ms BADGER – Minister, just a couple of questions about the impact that the salmon industry is having on Tasmania’s native birds. Can you clarify how many native birds have been shot by the Tasmanian salmon industry since the start of 2024 and what weapon or implement was being used to shoot the native birds?
Ms HOWLETT – Okay. Just give me a moment. Thank you, Chair. A property protection permit may be issued under the Natural Conservation Wildlife Regulation 2021 to take wildlife to protect crops and/or stock and protect equipment and infrastructure. Applications are assessed prior to a quota being determined on a permit issued, and a permit holder must record and report the number of animals taken.
I am aware that my department issued two property permit protections to Tassal in December 2023 as a temporary tool to manage an unprecedented rise in interactions at a lease in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel and the Huon River region. Upon investigation of this infrastructure and interactions by NRA Tas, the permits were issued as a last resort measure to allow for the development and installation of improved bird exclusion measures.
Ms BADGER – Great. That specific question was: how many native birds were shot, and what weapon or implement was used? Happy to take that on notice.
Ms HOWLETT – How many were shot, and what weapon or implement?
Ms BADGER – Yes, thank you.
Ms HOWLETT – I will have to take that on notice, and I believe minister Abetz will –
Ms BADGER – Yes, on notice is fine. He has referred us down here for this, so, yes, happy to take that on notice.
The second question: is the government going to notify water users in the future – very importantly, such as boaters – if there is a shooting operation that is currently happening? And that is not what we saw at the Coningham lease, unfortunately.
Ms HOWLETT – That is an operational matter, and I will pass you over to the deputy secretary to speak to that.
Ms WILSON – What I can say is that the issuing of a property protection permit does not override the requirements to meet the Firearms Act, and, as for notification, I will need to take some advice on that. But the primary obligation is still to meet the specifications under the Firearms Act. The Firearms Act is not our legislation, but you do have to meet those requirements.
Ms HOWLETT – Can I just add to your comments, deputy secretary? The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania routinely publishes data on wildlife interactions in the salmon industry. This is actively disclosed. Marine farm operators must submit a monthly summary report for each marine farming lease, detailing all wildlife mortalities, injuries, entanglements, and entrapments detected. This includes wildlife exclusion netting, marine farming infrastructure, and the use of seal deterrent devices.
Any other information we can provide you with, hopefully, by the end of the committee.
Ms HOWLETT – In response to a question from Ms Badger earlier, I am advised that there were three property protection permits issued for cormorants in 2023-24. Two were for the Tassal company. NRE Tasmania has recently returned information for one of these. For great cormorants, the quota was 50, and they shot 50. The second permit was then issued with a quota for 30, and no return has been received on this one to date.
