Greens Senator for Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson, cautiously welcomed the leadership shown by Huon Aquaculture today in announcing strategic plans to expand its salmon farming pens off the coast of Tasmania to deep water locations.

"The Greens-initiated Senate inquiry recently heard comprehensive evidence on the many environmental, economic and social issues facing an expanding salmon industry.

Greens Senator Surfer, Peter Whish-Wilson, is disappointed the federal environment minister is politicking with the serious and sensitive issue of shark attacks, inviting applications for culls of Great White Sharks in his comments to The Australian this morning.

"Raising education and awareness on the risks and realities of shark encounters is crucial in this debate, and the federal environment minister's comments this morning are most unhelpful.

Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, has welcomed the support of the Senate in agreeing to establish an Inquiry into the impact of climate change on our fisheries and on marine biodiversity.

“The nation has been shocked by the now annual bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef from heating oceans. What everyone may not be aware of is that global warming is driving dramatic changes throughout Australia’s marine estate and this is having enormous impacts.

Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson says that the last-minute-to-midnight decision to close of the Macquarie Island Station just before the Antarctic Summer season is a worrying sign of the budget pressure facing the Australian Antarctic Division.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “Successive budget cuts, year after year, to the Australian Antarctic Division has clearly led to some bases like Macquarie Island falling into disrepair and this will have contributed to them making a snap decision to close the base.