Media release – Neighbours of Fish Farming, 23 July 2023

Ban salmon hatcheries in Hobart’s drinking water catchment

The state government should act immediately to close industrial salmon hatcheries in the Hobart water catchment area before a major health crisis strikes.

NOFF calls for a ban on salmon hatcheries within10k of Hobart’s drinking water catchment to be implemented without delay.

“What responsible government would risk its population’s health and the quality of its drinking water to serve the interests and the profits of foreign-owned companies that run the farmed salmon business in Tasmania?” Asked Peter George, president of NOFF.

There is now mounting evidence of links between blue-green algae outbreaks in water catchments (The Mercury, Sunday July 23, 2023) and deadly health issues like motor neurone disease.

“Blue-green algae blooms occur frequently in warm weather below industrial salmon hatcheries in rivers supplying Hobart’s water catchment – a major reason why tax payers are forking out a quarter of a billion dollars in upgrading the Bryn-Estn water treatment plant.

“It’s an open secret even within TasWater that salmon hatcheries are a major reason that Hobart’s drinking water is threatened – and with the risk of a hot summer looming the government can no longer pretend otherwise.

Mr George says other sources of pollution include agricultural runoff, sewage and forestry, but the hatcheries are actually operating on the rivers.

“There are simply too many unanswered questions, too many risks, too many years of inaction by government and the EPA to allow the scandal to continue.

“For too long the industrial salmon companies have been calling the shots, telling the government and regulator what’s good for them is what’s right for Tasmania. This has to end … now.”