Barramundi farmer fined for environmental breaches
Australian fish farmer Mainstream Aquaculture Queensland has been fined AU $300,000 (£148,000) and had convictions recorded after being found guilty of several environmental offences, including releasing copper sulphate into a creek and placing barramundi in a farm site licensed for shrimp.
Mainstream Aquaculture Queensland, along with its CEO Boris Musa, faced eight charges in Cairns Magistrates Court, brought by the state environment department. These included the illegal release of barramundi pond water into waterways, unauthorized use of copper sulphate, and stocking barramundi on a shrimp farm.
The violations occurred at the Killaloe shrimp farm near Port Douglas, which Mainstream acquired in 2021, with incidents spanning from 2022 to 2023.
In September, Magistrate Jakub Lodziak found the company guilty of five counts related to depositing harmful substances in Queensland waterways, two counts of not complying with official notices, and one count of conducting environmentally relevant activities without proper authorization.
During the July trial, evidence showed that when the company began raising barramundi in 2022, the site only had permission to hold crustaceans.
Australian broadcaster ABC reported that during sentencing, Magistrate Lodziak said while Mainstream Aquaculture had been undertaking some processes to mitigate the release of copper-treated waters, the "evidence clearly demonstrates that Mainstream knew copper was making its way to Queensland waters".
"There was some sophistication to the offending, it was deliberate, profit-driven and committed in the face of ample and repeated notices given by the department," Lodziak said.
Magistrate Lodziak noted during sentencing that although Mainstream took some steps to limit copper contamination, they were well aware copper was entering Queensland waters. He described the offences as calculated and profit-motivated, carried out even after repeated warnings from authorities.
Despite no profit being made or proof of environmental harm, Magistrate Lodziak said the company’s decisions were intentional and disregarded advice. Boris Musa was fined $60,000 (£29,600), but did not have a conviction recorded. The magistrate recognised Boris Musa’s removal from industry boards and considered the impact a conviction could have on his career. Both Mainstream Aquaculture and Musa were ordered to pay court costs.
Prosecutor Saul Holt called the conduct “deliberate” and “serious,” pointing to extensive communication since 2021 about regulations, including emails, letters, and presentations.
Although copper sulphate is commonly used in aquaculture and the company had a permit for it, the court found Mainstream failed to test copper levels at discharge locations, hinting at an intentional attempt to bypass legal requirements.
About $5.9m (£2.9m) worth of fish was produced unlawfully during this period, yet the company still operated at a loss.
Defence lawyer Jeffrey Hunter KC denied that Musa had intentionally violated laws or was disrespectful to the department, insisting his client believed only minor amendments were needed for compliance. He concluded by saying Musa and the company had learned a difficult lesson from their errors.
Mainstream markets its barramundi under the brand Infinity Blue.
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