The document outlining the MG Kailis Group's proposal for a tuna industry trial in the Recherche Archipelago has been submitted to the Environmental Protection Authority for assessment.
The process takes 28 days from submitting but the clock stops if more information is required and re-starts once received.
MG Kailis compliance and projects manager Stephen Hood said the document was submitted on Tuesday.
There is mention of the motion which was passed at the fiery community meeting on November 22 last year which asked for the highest level of assessment for a tuna industry in the archipelago.
The Kailis proposal is for 4-6 circular pens, each 40m across and 20m deep, to be placed in about 40m of water in an area just north of
Southern bluefin tuna caught in the
Mr. Hood said one of the changes in the document was the size of the 'area of interest' which was originally 200ha but was reduced to 106ha in the document given to the EPA. The change was made because people were asking why such a large area was needed. The pens would take up about 10 per cent of this area. Mr. Hood said the larger area of interest meant they were not locked into a small area.
Vive le Recherche convenor Elaine Siemer said the group was still actively working to stop the impact of a tuna industry. â€This community has demanded the highest level of assessment and will not be satisfied with anything less,†Mrs. Siemer said.
A postcard campaign led by Vive le Recherche has resulted in more than 1000 postcards about the tuna proposal being sent to the Environment Minister Judy Edwards. The card raises the MG Kailis tuna proposal and how it could threaten the biodiversity of the