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Lower oxygen hits fish growth

By ADAM LANGENBERG
Feb. 26, 2016, 9:43 p.m.

SALMON grower Huon Aquaculture has blamed slow fish growth on reduced oxygen levels in Macquarie Harbour.
Huon Aquaculture said hotter temperatures and reduced dissolved oxygen in Macquarie Harbour had made growing challenging after December 2015.
It used its half-yearly financial statement to flag that the reduction in salmon growth was expected to impact production volumes and cost in future periods.
Huon said it responded to reduced oxygen levels by reducing feed and installing an oxygenating system to limit the impact on its fish.
Macquarie Harbour accounts for 15 per cent of Huon's production, but a growth in offshore pens in Storm Bay will see that figure reduced.
Huon revealed it had recorded a half-yearly loss of $1.3 million, compared with a profit of $25.9 million recorded at the same time in December 2014, despite a $38 million rise in revenue.
Oxygen levels at Macquarie Harbour were a key topic of debate during a Senate inquiry into Tasmania's salmon industry last year.
A leaked email dated September 2014 and signed by senior figures from Huon and Petuna stating the industry was concerned about water quality in the harbour was also tabled in state parliament last year.
Fellow Macquarie Harbour operators Petuna and Tassal said warm temperatures had not affected their salmon growth in Macquarie Harbour.

Both companies declined to comment on the specifics of Huon's operation, but said current dissolved oxygen levels were good.