Marine Produce Australia: Cone Bay Barramundi Aquaculture ...

4.5 Biota monitoring and management
4.5.1 Objectives
Prepare Biota management program as part of the EMMP that:
� Minimises impacts on all biota at the proposed site and within the region;
� Implements strategies to minimise attraction of fauna to sea cage system;
� Minimise boating activity;
� Promotes boating regulations and awareness of boating safety to protect mega fauna and
other marine biota in the region; and
� Records all negative interactions with sensitive marine fauna.
4.5.2 Responsibility
Biota management shall be the responsibility of the Proponent (MPA).
4.5.3 Timing
Biota management will be undertaken whenever there are operational activities.
4.5.4 Implementation and management
The Biota management plan is devised to comply with Department of Fisheries (DoF) Marine
Fish Farm Environmental Code of Practice (2009), and details key management strategies for
preventing and managing adverse interactions with sensitive marine wildlife.
Pro-active management strategies
Predator exclusion systems will be mandatory on sea cages. The operation will utilise rigid
fishnets (single barrier) and where needed external predator nets (double barrier) to avoid
predation on farmed stock by sharks, crocodiles and dolphins. All net hangings will be
maintained tight to avoid entanglements. All mesh sizes used on external predator nets are
180 mm across the bar (or less).
Reactive management strategies
Reactive management strategies in event of negative interactions with marine wildlife
include:
� Marine farming equipment will be modified if an ongoing record of entanglement emerges,
so as to alleviate further risk of entanglement;
� If marine wildlife is discovered entangled in fish farming equipment, then, with due regard
to workplace safety, all reasonable efforts will be made by farm staff to untangle the
animal; and
� All incidences of cetaceans or turtles entangled in MPA infrastructure will be reported
immediately to DEC Wildcare Hotline on (08) 9474 9055 (24-hour emergency number) or
the DEC Duty Officer on (08) 9334 0224.
Interaction with sensitive marine wildlife
� Staff and contractors will be fully trained and inducted in company policy to ensure they
are fully aware of the correct manner in which to interact with wildlife. Personnel will also
be held accountable for the interactions between themselves and wildlife;
� Marine animals, such as sharks, crocodiles, cetaceans, dolphins and turtles, must not be
allowed to “gain reward” from the aquaculture operation;
� It is the responsibility of all crew to avoid, where possible, travelling in the vicinity of
whales, turtles, crocodiles and dolphins;
� Under no circumstances will any employee or contractor feed wildlife, or make available
any dead stock for consumption by wildlife;
� Feeding, touching or swimming with wildlife is not permitted;
� All rubbish shall be placed in dedicated waste bins on vessels and work platforms for
onshore disposal;
� If turtles and/or cetaceans are sighted within 500 m of the sea pens or work vessel
routes, a reduced speed should be adopted for all work vessels;
34 Oceanica: Marine Produce Australia: Cone Bay Barramundi Aquaculture, Environmental Monitoring & Management Plan