Salmon belonging to Huon Aquaculture had been quarantined there to protect them from POM-V which impacted stock in Storm Bay. However the company said that it was moving the fish.
In August, the Environment Protection Authority issued a permit allowing Huon Aquaculture to temporarily stock fish in Norfolk Bay for harvest.
On Saturday the company announced it will be moving its fish pens out of Norfolk Bay a month ahead of schedule as reported in ABC news.
Furthermore in a full-page advertisement published on Saturday, Huon Aquaculture executive director, Frances Bender said the virus had not been present in the waters since July and the state’s chief veterinary officer had given the company approval to move stock back into Storm Bay.
Bender added Tasmania’s chief veterinary officer had granted approval for fish to be moved back to Hideaway Bay, where Huon Aquaculture has its headquarters, for harvest.
“Since early July,” the advertisement said, “there has been no evidence of POMV (Pilchard Orthomyxovirus) in any populations in the Storm Bay region. As a result, we are now exiting Norfolk Bay earlier than first scheduled.”
A flotilla protest involving up to 60 various types of boats took place on Sunday for fish-farming to be permanently banned from the bay.
“Our approach was, and has always been, to ensure the highest biosecurity standards are developed and maintained across all our farming operations,” added Bender.
Mrs Bender said the final onsite harvest would take place early next week, with the final harvest pen to be removed by the end of the following week.
