Media release – Neighbours of Fish Farming, 8 September, 2022
Another Mass Salmon Escape in the Huon!
Tens of thousands of salmon escape into the Huon River as aquaculture management yet again reveals disastrous practice
On Tuesday 6th September, residents along the Huon River were confronted by fishing tinnies busily trying to catch the feral Atlantic salmon whose mass escape is the most recent of a long history of failures by the aquaculture industry.
There are now tens of thousands of carnivorous adult fish attempting to survive in our local waterways, already facing heavily-depleted native wildlife populations.
The industry will typically say that scientific studies show that escapes don’t cause significant ecological issues, but overseas reports and local eye-witness accounts tell a different story.
Canadian studies reveal that by day 14 after escape, 24 per cent of examined caged salmon are found to be predating on wild fish.
https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/
Tasmanian communities have every right to know automatically when these escapes occur and which company is responsible. It seems this is another example of an under-funded, weak at best, Environmental Protection Agency.
“What penalties apply for such breaches, and will they even be applied in this case?” demanded Neighbours of Fish Farming Campaigner, Jessica Coughlan.
In Norway and Chile, salmon giants Mowi were fined $750,000 and $9.5 million respectively over mass fish escapes. What message is the Tasmanian government sending international operators by not applying penalties?
“Carnivorous Atlantic salmon outcompete and indeed eat, our native fish and shellfish species, already affected by ocean warming, pollution, and overfishing,” said Ms Coughlan.
The entire industry is soon to be in the hands of foreign companies. Under Australian law, the Government must insist on full and timely transparency, and where applicable, heavy penalties. These are preventable, ecological disasters happening in our backyards—with no immediate notice from either Huon Aquaculture or Tassal.
The community wants to know how escapes continue to happen in an industry boasting sustainability. This is not ‘world’s best practice’.
