Article
Forrest, Flanagan Back Land-Based Aquaculture
Media release – Tattarang, 27 October 2021
Tattarang calls on JBS S.A to make clear commitments to shareholders, announces multi-million-dollar land-based aquaculture investment
Tattarang Chair, Dr Andrew Forrest AO, has called on the global parent of JBS Australia – JBS S.A – to declare its unequivocal commitment to animal welfare and environmental sustainability.
“Until JBS S.A declares its unequivocal commitment to adopt the same animal welfare – including the principle of No Pain, No Fear (NPNF) – and environmental sustainability standards as JBS Australia across their global operations, Huon shareholders have no certainty for the future of the company under JBS Group’s control,” Dr Forrest said.
Dr Forrest confirmed that until JBS S.A made those commitments, it is Tattarang’s current intention to vote against both Schemes of Arrangement.
“My message to these massive protein producers remains clear: your animals deserve NPNF in their life cycle, and your customers expect you to change the management of your business to accommodate this. Only a clear commitment by JBS S.A in respect to its global operations would give Tattarang sufficient confidence to reconsider its position.”
Dr Forrest said Tattarang has also committed to developing a new land-based finfish production facility to give consumers a sustainable alternative to current marine farming practices.
Project scoping and feasibility studies have already commenced, paving the way for future site selection and capital works to occur, which would underwrite an investment commitment anticipated to be more than $100 million.
Dr Forrest said the new land-based production facility would give consumers true market choice to support products that are sustainably produced without impacting our environments.
“I didn’t invest in Huon to create a rival takeover proposition. I invested in Huon because I believed they wanted to be leaders in truly sustainable salmon farming. But the industry change I want to achieve goes beyond just one company, in one jurisdiction.
“We invested to bring the true impacts of nearshore farming to policy makers’ attention, to bring the credentials of certification arrangements into review, and for the real standards of animal welfare practices to be highlighted.
“Through our investments we have put an immovable spotlight on the true, long-term sustainability of the Tasmanian salmon industry and the NPNF management of animal to protein by multi-nationals. It is now at the top of the agenda for the Australian community and government.”
Tattarang will continue to consider its position in relation to the JBS takeover bid.
Statement – Tasmanian Alliance for Marine Protection, 27 October 2021
Community, Environment & Toxic author Richard Flanagan welcomes $100million land-based fish farming project
The commitment by Dr Forrest to purely land-based fin fish farming sounds the death knell of the highly destructive sea-based Tasmanian salmon industry.
Unless Tasmania’s salmon industry starts an immediate transition to land-based production, their environmentally destructive sea-based methods will doom their very future—and the Tasmanian jobs that go with it.
A commitment to sustainable aquaculture along the guidelines of the 2020 Dennes Point Declaration (attached) is now an urgent necessity for the industry if it is to survive – a commitment that will earn the salmon industry the support of all Tasmanians.
That means out of the sea and onto land now. Anything less will risk Dr Forrest’s clean, green fish being heavily marketed against Tasmania’s dirty salmon with the irreparable brand damage to Tasmania that will ensue.
Assuming Dr Forrest’s land based farms will observe appropriate environmental standards in relation to salmon feed, water use and appropriate processing of fish waste, the Tasmanian Alliance for Marine Protection and its affiliates applaud this announcement as a game changing development.
Statement – Richard Flanagan, 27 October 2021
Richard Flanagan has welcomed Dr Forrest’s announcement.
“While the devil is in the detail this would appear to be the beginning of the end for Tasmania’s dirty and destructive sea-based salmon farming industry. It is in accord with what the Tasmanian community has consistently asked for: land-based fin fish farming. Australian consumers will now be able to choose: clean, green farmed fish or dirty Tasmanian salmon.
“The Tasmanian government must now decide if it will act to save the Tasmanian salmon industry and the 1,734 jobs it provides by compelling it to go land based to compete with Mr Forrest. The alternative is to watch more of Tasmania’s marine environment being destroyed and Tasmania’s good name further trashed, before the industry inevitably collapses under commercial pressure and with it the loss of those 1,734 jobs.”
NB Jobs figure is Tasmanian government’s most recent from Sept 2021: “Based on industry reporting to DPIPWE there were 1734 full time equivalent (FTEs) and 199 casual jobs employed state-wide in 2020-21.” P12 “Second Progress Report. Sustainable Industry Growth Plan for the Salmon Industry” (DPIPWE Sept. 2021)