Mass fish deaths discovered at remote Kimberley Tassal barramundi sea cage operation
A mass fish death event uncovered at Tassal’s barramundi sea cage fish farm operation at Cone Bay, which is still unfolding, has shocked local conservationists and raised fears around the impact on the pristine Kimberley marine environment.
Conservation group Environs Kimberley is calling on the West Australian Cook government to reject the expansion of the sea cages which is currently being assessed by the WA EPA and Commonwealth Environment Department.
Tassal barramundi being dumped at the Broome tip.
“The Kimberley’s Buccaneer Archipelago is in the top 4% of the most pristine coastlines in the world, its National Heritage listed and in a marine park, it’s the wrong place for industrial fish farming," said Environs Kimberley executive director Martin Pritchard.
"The mass fish death at Cone Bay should end any discussion of expanding Tassal’s industrial fish farming operations across thousands of square kilometres in the even more remote and pristine Buccaneer Archipelago and Mayala Marine Park. The expansion proposal is currently under assessment by both the WA EPA and the Federal environment department, DCCEEW," Mr Pritchard said.
Dead Cone Bay Tassal barramundi.
"This mass mortality event is extremely concerning and shows the industry is not fit for such a globally significant marine environment. We’re calling on the Premier Roger Cook to publicly acknowledge how significant the Kimberley coast is and rule out the expansion plans by Tassal to industrialise it with sea cages,” he said.
“Multi-national sea cage operator Tassal, already under huge pressure over its salmon farming operations in Tasmania, must be directed by the WA government to immediately suspend its operations at Cone Bay pending a full, independent investigation. No more juvenile barramundi should be taken to Cone Bay and the existing fish at Cone Bay, if any survive, must be safely and humanely removed.
“We will be writing urgently to WA Environment Minister Swinbourn urging him to launch a full, open and independent investigation, suspend current operations at Cone Bay and reject Tassal’s proposed expansion of industrial sea cage fish farming across the Buccaneer Archipelago.”
Help stop Tassal's sea cage expansion here.
Woodside’s Browse oil and gas drilling plan for Scott Reef rejected by EPA
Woodside’s Browse oil and gas drilling plan for Scott Reef rejected by EPA
Oil and gas multinational Woodside’s Browse Basin project at Scott Reef with joint venture partners BP, Japan Australia LNG and PetroChina has suffered a huge blow after being rejected by the WA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
Congratulations to the EPA for a sensible first step in rejecting a terrible proposal.
Scott Reef. Pic: Alex Westover
The EPA have said the company’s plans to drill 50 oil and gas wells around the globally significant Scott Reef off the Kimberley coast has unacceptable impacts on endangered Blue Whales, be a threat to endangered Green Turtles, and risk pollution and oil spills at the highly biodiverse and fragile reef, according to reports made public today. The EPA considers these risks too high.
Scott Reef is a marine biodiversity hotspot that supports 29 marine mammal species including endangered Blue Whales. Nine hundred species of fish have been found at the reef and 1,500 species of invertebrates, including soft and hard corals, sponges and crustaceans. It is also a hotspot for sea snakes, including the elusive Dusky Sea Snake, which hasn’t been seen since 2002.
Save Scott Reef protest in Broome. Pic: Alex Westover.
“This proposal to drill 50 oil and gas wells around Scott Reef off the Kimberley coast, one of the most important marine hotspots in Australian waters, would be rejected out of hand at the Great Barrier Reef and Ningaloo, so it’s not surprising the WA EPA has rejected it,” said Martin Pritchard, Director of Strategy at Broome-based conservation group Environs Kimberley.
The WA EPA has been assessing this proposal for 5 years and, in a letter to Woodside, it has been reported that there could be unacceptable impacts on endangered Blue Whales, Green Turtles and the reef itself,” said Mr Pritchard.
Woodside withdrew its controversial plans for $80 billion LNG refineries on the Kimberley coast at James Price Point in 2013 after fierce opposition from locals and protests across the nation.
“The risks of destroying one of the world’s great coral reefs with oil and gas drilling are clearly too great, and we’re calling on Premier Roger Cook and Environment Minister Reece Whitby to also reject the threat to Scott Reef,” said Mr Pritchard.
It is understood that Woodside now has an opportunity to respond to the EPA, which will make its recommendation to the State Government. Both the State and Federal Governments will then make final decisions on whether or not the Browse project and drilling at Scott Reef can go ahead.
Community Meeting Called to Alert Broome Locals to New Woodside Threat
Broome locals have been left in the dark over the dangerous climate and nature risks posed by Woodside’s new plans to drill at Scott Reef and develop the Browse field off the Kimberley coast, environmental groups and experts say.
Experts will brief Broome locals, who are largely unaware of Woodside’s new plans for their town, at a special campaign launch in Broome to ‘Save Scott Reef’ hosted by Environs Kimberley, Greenpeace and Conservation Council of WA at Broome Lotteries House on Thursday May 16.
Ten years after Woodside’s failed attempt to build an onshore gas processing plant at James Price Point, the fossil fuel giant is planning to build a 900-kilometre-long pipeline off the Kimberley coast to pipe gas from the Browse field to the Karratha gas plant, as part of its wider Burrup Hub project.
Woodside’s proposal, which has been submitted for federal and state approval, would see the company drill up to 50 wells at the stunning Scott Reef, turning pristine waters into an industrial gas zone.
Sitting 270 kilometres off the Kimberley coast, Scott Reef is one of Australia’s most vibrant and biodiverse standalone coral reefs, home to many threatened species including endangered green sea turtles and the endangered pygmy blue whale.
The stunning Scott Reef off the Kimberley coast where Woodside plans to drill up to 50 gas wells to develop the Browse field. Credit: Alex Westover, Greenpeace.
Woodside wants to drill just two kilometres from Scott Reef’s edge, risking a catastrophic oil spill. Meanwhile, the pipeline Woodside wants to build will also sit within 2 to 3 kilometres of the stunning Rowley Shoals, a diving paradise regularly visited by Broome marine tourism operators.
Broome locals have not been informed of the dangerous risks Woodside’s plans pose for the Kimberley coast.
“Woodside’s plans haven’t been made clear and transparent to Broome residents. People are just not aware of the risks. If something goes wrong, a well blowout could spread for hundreds of kilometres,” said Martin Pritchard, Director of Strategy at Environs Kimberley.
“Woodside’s safety record has been described by unions as ‘diabolical.’ They have had two pipeline accidents already this year off Karratha. We must place the protection of the Kimberley coast and everyone's jobs in tourism over Woodside profits.”
With the project facing possible approval within the next few months, Environs Kimberley called on Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to visit Broome and Scott Reef to see first-hand what is at stake.
“This is a massive new fossil fuel development in a critically important area for endangered pygmy blue whales and green turtles - it’s completely unacceptable. Minister Plibersek can protect our oceans and wildlife for future generations by stopping Woodside’s destructive plans. We would like to invite her to come to the Kimberley and see for herself what's at stake,” Mr Pritchard said.
At the launch, IPCC report author and renowned climate scientist Bill Hare will discuss climate modelling that indicates Broome will become unliveable if fossil fuel emissions are not drastically reduced soon.
Environs Kimberley and Greenpeace will also present new research that highlights a massive increase in noise pollution from the number of helicopters taking off and landing at Broome airport and disturbing local residents, if Woodside’s Browse project is approved.
“Scott Reef is the unknown jewel in the crown of Australia’s offshore reefs. There would be a national outcry if Woodside was drilling for oil and gas on the Great Barrier Reef, we need the same kind of response here,” said Mr Pritchard.
“Broome banded together and successfully defeated Woodside in 2013. We need the community’s support again here to protect Scott Reef and the Kimberley coast from Woodside for good.”
Call for protection of Roebuck Bay and Kimberley coast from invasive threat by foreign vessels
Broome-based conservation group Environs Kimberley is signalling the alarm over catastrophic threat risk from foreign vessels bringing invasive species to Roebuck Bay, Broome’s cherished natural asset and the world-famous Kimberley coast. EK is calling for community consultation and an independent environmental risk assessment.
“Roebuck Bay is one of Broome’s most important community assets. Whether it's fishing in the Bay or on the shore, crabbing in the mangroves, exploring the seagrass and reefs or going for a swim at Town Beach, a vast majority of the people of Broome care deeply about it and the Traditional Owner connection is vital,” said Environs Kimberley’s Martin Pritchard.
The State and Federal Governments’ plans to give First Point of Entry (FPOE) status for the Port of Broome would mean foreign vessels could come directly into Roebuck Bay from overseas with the risk of bringing invasive species with them.
“Roebuck Bay has been relatively sheltered from invasive species because foreign ships must quarantine at another port first. We’ve seen disasters like the Black-striped mussel invasion in Darwin, requiring mass poisoning to control it. We don’t want that kind of disaster happening here.”
Marine invasive species can cost millions in damage and efforts to remove them, but once they establish themselves they can be impossible to eradicate.
Questions in the WA Parliament have uncovered marine invasive species at the Port of Broome, including White colonial sea squirt (Didemnum perlucidum), which is originally from the Caribbean. It is known to grow heavily over mussels and oysters and smother them.
Asian Green Mussel has also been found at the Port of Broome.
“We’re calling on the Federal Minister Catherine King and her State counterpart, Minister for Ports David Michael, to consult the community over their plans to open up Roebuck Bay to foreign vessels so that everyone understands the risks involved and can have a say. We’re also calling for an independent environmental risk assessment,” Mr Pritchard said.
“Both State and Federal Governments are putting the Kimberley coast at risk, an area known the world over as being intact. It is worth tens of millions of dollars in tourism revenue,” Mr Pritchard said.