Final decision on King Salmon released by EPA

Thursday, 28 February 2013, 12:53 pm
Press Release: Environmental Defence Society

Media Release: Final decision on King Salmon released by EPA

The EPA’s Board of Inquiry has issued its final decision on the King Salmon applications today, approving four out of nine salmon farms in the Marlborough Sounds.

“An earlier draft decision announced that 5 of the 9 nine sites would be refused consent and approvals given for 4 sites. This final decision doesn’t change anything in that respect,” said EDS Chairman Gary Taylor.

“We acknowledge that the Board has declined consent for 5 sites but it has not gone far enough.

“The areas the industrial scale consented farms are to be located in are highly natural and in prominent locations in the iconic and internationally renowned Marlborough Sounds.

“The Council Plan for the Sounds already sets a clear framework for aquaculture, where it was provided for and where it was prohibited. This community-sanctioned plan is now being over-ridden.

“Large parts of the Marlborough Sounds are already set aside for aquaculture with the rest protected for their outstanding landscapes and tourism values. We are losing the balance between conservation and development interests with this decision.

“There are important national issues at stake relating to the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010. The NZCPS is clear that adverse effects on areas of outstanding natural character and outstanding natural landscapes should be avoided. The Board of Inquiry found that the Port Gore (Papatua) site is outstanding but then approved it for salmon farming. We think that is wrong in law.

“We are therefore preparing an appeal to the High Court and will be seeking approval to file proceedings from our Board,” Mr Taylor concluded.

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