Huon Aquaculture is clearly feeling community pressure over their operations in Norfolk Bay.  Ahead of tomorrow’s flotilla at their lease site, they’ve taken out a full page advertisement in the Mercury newspaper to ‘outline the facts’ about their operation.

 

The fact is, the community want them out. The only the thing they want to hear is that Huon won’t be returning to operate anywhere in Norfolk Bay into the future.

 

A catalogue of recent disastrous news has focussed the national spotlight in the worst possible way on Tasmanian salmon and the clean, green brand it trades upon.

 

These are the facts the industry should be thinking about:

 

  • The ‘Red listing’ of Tasmanian salmon by Australia’s Sustainable Seafood Guide has caused chefs and consumers to consider alternatives, such as prawns and barramundi.
  • The thousands of beanbag bullets and sonic explosives shot at and deployed against Australian fur seals by fish farms in Tasmania.
  • The global Aquaculture Stewardship Certification, the fish farming “stamp” of approval used by salmon companies, has been audited and found to be a sham.
  • Claims by the Tasmanian salmon industry about the number of jobs they provide has been challenged by ABS data and shown to be substantially overinflated.

 

 

The reputation of Tasmanian salmon is being tarnished as the truth about the damage industrial fish farming is having on the marine environment in Macquarie Harbour and the D’Entrecasteaux Channel continues to emerge.

 

This is concerning for the marine environment, the livelihoods of salmon farm workers, and the clean green brand that underpins all Tasmanian products.

 

Huon Aquaculture, and the Liberal Government who is responsible for regulating them, would be wise to reconsider their continued disregard for all communities affected by fish farm operations.

 

The government’s failure to establish genuine laws to care for our wildlife and fish populations will further strengthen the resolve of people to speak out and defend publicly-owned waters.

 

Tomorrow’s flotilla will further demonstrate Tasmanians already understand the facts that matter about industrial fish farming impacts on the marine environment, coastal communities and recreational fishers and boaters – and they’re not happy.

 

Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Environment spokesperson