Seals Appear Trapped in D’Entrecasteaux Salmon Pens

Media release – Tasmanian Alliance for Marine Protection (TAMP), 14 February 2023

PROTECTED FUR SEALS LEFT CAGED IN FISH PENS – REPORT

The Tasmanian Alliance for Marine Protection (TAMP) has received reports that a number of protected Tasmanian fur seals have been trapped in floating salmon cages for at least a week.

The state’s peak marine protection body has been informed the seals have remained caged at the Tassal Simmonds lease in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel for up to 8 days.

TAMP understands that industrial salmon companies are required to remove and release seals as soon as possible.

Tasmania’s trespass laws make independent verification of the number of seals trapped and the duration difficult. Approaching the salmon cages can lead to legal action.

Tassal was taken over last year by the Canadian multinational, Cooke Aquaculture, whose failure to maintain its infrastructure in Washington State, USA, led to a ban on all open-cage salmon production in recent months.

TAMP calls for an investigation into the causes for the seals being trapped, whether the seals have been able to feed during their captivity and why these protected mammals can be held in captivity.

Note to Editors: TAMP has not been able to independently verify the number of seals trapped as approaching the salmon cages is considered trespassing. Media inquiries are urged to contact relevant authorities.

Salmon Industry needs to answer more fully:

TAMP’s inquiries raise industry ire

Legitimate questions about the fate of protected fur seals spotted in a Tassal salmon pen in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel provoked industry ire today.

“The industry’s defensiveness is not unexpected,” says Peter George, president of the Tasmanian Alliance for Marine Protection (TAMP).

“Considering its track record of causing seal deaths and the use of thousands of lead-weighted beanbag projectiles and underwater explosives against protected fur seals, the industry’s sensitivity is hardly surprising.

“Nor is it any wonder that when water users see seals apparently trapped inside salmon pens they report their concerns to a responsible organisation like TAMP – and TAMP raises those concerns for investigation.

“As the industry’s intemperate response today illustrates, this is not an industry that likes to be questioned.

“The industry’s explanation leaves further questions unanswered:

“Is it industry practice to allow seals to become habituated to “hauling out” and resting on salmon cages when they’re empty only then to use explosives and projectiles against them when the cages are stocked?

“We don’t resile from raising legitimate concerns about an industry that is notorious for its lack of transparency.”