Projects

SUBTIDAL REEF MONITORING AND COMMUNITY AWARENESS PROJECT

Many divers have seen disturbing changes in the oceans over the last few decades including the loss of Giant Kelp beds, declines in some fish species, more invasive marine pests and the effects of climate change warming the East Coast of Tasmania. These threats indicate a wider problem with the health of our oceans and show that Tasmania’s unique underwater wilderness is going through a period of major change. Local recreational dive clubs have decided that they want to do more to assist scientists in gaining a better understanding of our changing marine environment. Sub-tidal reef monitoring is an area where recreational divers can do vital work to add to this body of knowledge. A major catalyst for the project has been the appearance of devastating urchin barrens off the East Coast of Tasmania. Monitoring the spread of these barrens has been selected as the priority task for the first stage of this project. Click here for more details on this project.

ST HELENS BARWAY

The state government announced on the 12th June 2008 an extra $2 million will be spent over the next four years to dredge the barway to improve access to St Helens. The Labour Member for Lyons, Heather Butler, said the funding was in addition to the current $100,000 annual allocation provided to Marine and Safety Tasmania to carry out work on the barway entrance to Georges Bay. Further expenditure of $350,000 over each year of the following three years will allow for further dredging at the barway and at Pelican point as necessary. MAST have called for Expressions of Interest on 14 June for the removal of 500,000 cubic metres of sand from Blanche Beach. EOI's closed on 26 June.

MAST have called tenders on 2 May 2009 for the transfer of sand from Blanches Beach at St Helens Point. The work involves construction of a sand bund, removal of sand from the beach and placing in the bund. Tenders close on 22 May 2009.

GUNNS PULP MILL

TARFish have been keeping a watching brief on the progress of this significant state project and note previous Prime Minister Bob Hawkes recent comments in the media. Click here to view the media statement in The Australian newspaper on 1st July. TARFish have made submissions on this project through the proper process and remain greatly concerned over the potential environmental impacts of the project, not only on recreational fishing but on the wider environment. TARFish respects that the health of the environment is dependent on a delicate balance of complex and sensitive elements, all interrelated and inter-dependent. Many voices within the community, including environmental experts, are loudly calling for the protection of this precious and vulnerable resource. This project will, without doubt, have serious detrimental impacts on many aspects of the natural environment.

BREAM BREEDING PROGRAM REGENERATION IN TAMAR RIVER

Project will construct a purpose built broodstock recirculating aquaculture system to produce juvenile black bream via the spontaneous spawning of captive held bream. Broodstock will be sourced from the Tamar River and held in the broodstock tanks until they spontaneously spawn.