The EPA is a mandatory referral agency under the Aquaculture Act 2001 for all aquaculture licence applications and amendments, and for lease conversions that occur outside an aquaculture zone.
When assessing applications and lease conversions outside of an aquaculture zone, the EPA must have regard to, and seek to further, the objects of the Environment Protection Act 1993 (EP Act), and have regard to the general environmental duty and relevant environment protection policies. The EPA has the power to add licence conditions and can direct refusal of an application.
In addition, development authorisations for land-based aquaculture are also referred to the EPA for approval under the Development Regulations 2008.
When assessing aquaculture applications, the EPA considers the following environmental issues which may be associated with aquaculture:
- Water quality – addition of nutrients into any waters resulting from uneaten feed and faeces; use of chemicals and fuels on aquaculture sites.
- Waste – disposal of mortalities and processing waste; cleaning of infrastructure; removal of biofouling.
- Site contamination – settlement of uneaten feed and faeces resulting in anoxic sediments; chemical and fuel spills
- Noise – storage, cooling and processing facilities; pumps; filtration equipment; vessels entering and leaving the harbour at variable hours, maintenance; equipment cleaning.
- Odour – management of organic waste including disposal of mortalities and fish waste; biofouling on equipment such as cages and racks.
- Shading and scouring – impacts to sea floor, in particular seagrass resulting from inappropriate positioning of aquaculture infrastructure.
An EPA representative (a person engaged in the administration of the EP Act), sits on the Aquaculture Advisory Committee, which is responsible for advising the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries on matters relating to aquaculture.