… BUT MUCH MORE TO BE DONE IF INDUSTRY IS TO BE SUSTAINABLE
I welcome the RSPCA’s inclusion of some Huon Aquaculture salmon in the Approved Farming Scheme. This is good news for the great many members of the community who are campaigning for the fish farming industry to clean up its act.
I’ve been avoiding eating farmed salmon but the RSPCA’s endorsement gives me enough confidence to put these approved products back on the menu.
The pressure is now on Tassal and Petuna to step up and improve their practices so that they can also gain RSPCA approval. The pressure is also on all of the producers to go even further and meet world’s best practice with minimum environmental impact. Until that’s done there must be a moratorium on any expansion of the industry.
All three producers also need to get out of Macquarie Harbour and start respecting the legitimate community concerns about farms in places like Okehampton Bay and Storm Bay. They also need to plan for transition to closed loop on-shore farming practices.
I remain a strong supporter of Tasmanian aquaculture which is why I will continue to press for the industry to become genuinely sustainable. Otherwise it’s set to go the way of forestry which is much diminished by years of arrogant misconduct and malpractice.
While this RSPCA endorsement is a move in the right direction, the industry as a whole is not there yet.
Authorised by Andrew Wilkie MP 188 Collins St Hobart
Andrew Wilkie Independent for Denison
