Penalty Notice issued to Huon Aquaculture Company Pty Ltd Port Stephens LGA 19 July 2018

Penalty Notice issued to Huon Aquaculture Company Pty Ltd (Marine Finfish Research Lease Providence Bay, SSI 5118, Port Stephens LGA)

On 19 July 2018, the Department issued a $15,000 Penalty Notice to Huon Aquaculture Pty Ltd (Huon) for failing to maintain their sea pens at the Marine Finfish Research Lease (MARL), located in Providence Bay, near Newcastle. The Department was notified of an incident at the MARL in which two sea pens were damaged during large seas from 13 January 2018 to 18 January 2018, resulting in the escape of farmed Yellowtail Kingfish. Poor maintenance of the sea pens and the attached predator nets, and a build-up of barnacles and algae on the sea pens were identified as significant contributors to the incident. Huon have since undertaken measures to reduce the likelihood of a similar event occurring in the future.