Media release – Neighbours of Fish Farming, 29 August 2024
Communities force salmon industry to reduce harmful practices to wildlife
NOFF Calls for total ban on explosives and projectiles as seal deterrents
“Let’s be very, very clear: It’s only community pressure – not regulatory controls, government policy or accreditation agencies – that has forced the change in the industry’s use of harmful practices.”
Community pressure to protect wildlife from harmful salmon industry practices has forced Atlantic salmon producer, Tassal, to drastically reduce its use of underwater explosives to deter protected fur seals around its feedlots.
Industry figures released by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) ) (https://nre.tas.gov.au/Documents/Wildlife interaction data reported by the salmonid aquaculture industry January to June 2024.pdf) show Tassal’s use of the so-called “seal crackers” has now dropped to more closely match the two other foreign-owned salmon companies, Huon Aquaculture and Petuna.
However, the whole industry continues to use the “crackers” that can cause death, maiming and injuries in unconscionable numbers – using some 1,800 in the first six months of this year alone.
“NOFF and allied community and environmental groups have been battling harmful industry practices for years and were it not for their campaigning, the use of the so-called “crackers” would continue unabated & sight-unseen,” says Peter George, president of NOFF.
“NOFF considers the use of these explosives as well as lead-weighted projectiles fired from shotguns – called “bean bags” – to be still too high.
“The use of harmful explosives that are known to injure, main and kill fur seals is a disgrace.
“In this year alone, more than 1,800 of these devices have been aimed at fur seals which are protected in Tasmania from anyone other than the industry.
“The international accreditation agency, Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) this year, under pressure from Tasmanian campaigners, refused to grant Tassal any exemption from its ban on the use of these explosives – yet Tassal continue to use them.
“NOFF will continue to press for a complete ban on harmful “deterrents” – none of which would be necessary if the industry followed international trends to move production on to land.
“Let’s be very, very clear: It’s only community pressure – not regulatory controls, government policy or accreditation agencies – that has forced the change in the industry’s use of harmful practices.”
According to NRE figures Huon Aquaculture – owned by Brazilian multinational, JBS – is now the biggest user of explosive deterrents.
Tassal is the only company reported by NRE to be using “bean bag” projectiles, using 111 in just six months this year – another practice that can kill, maim and injure fur seals.
Media release – Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Leader, 29 August 2024
Aquaculture companies continue campaign of cruelty against native wildlife
It’s deeply disturbing that aquaculture companies around Tasmania are continuing the cruel practice of bombing and shooting projectiles at native fur seals. The use of ‘seal bombs’ and ‘beanbag’ shots by salmon farming companies is cruel, and causes the maiming, suffering and death of innocent protected native marine wildlife.
Salmon farm companies in Tasmania continue to use seal crackers and beanbags, despite the fact they are banned under global standards set by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council. Other countries with the ASC’s stamp operate using practices that don’t maim and kill wildlife. Tasmanian companies are a long way below world’s best practice, and it’s time to catch up.
Fish farming in Tasmania is polluting rivers and estuaries, and killing protected native wildlife from native fur seals to the Maugean skate. The only way to have a sustainable industry, that’s not based on destroying marine life, is to move operations on land.
Until then, the Liberal Government must put a stop the native wildlife cruelty that is an everyday practice of salmon companies.
Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 29 August 2024
Industrial fish farms defy international standards by attacking native wildlife
Shocking numbers have been released about seal bomb use by Tasmanian salmon farms and deaths of seals and dolphins due to entanglement.
This is undeniable evidence that Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) must drop their certification of all Tasmanian salmon after the certification body, which was co-founded by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), ruled last year that the Tasmanian salmon industry’s request to be exempt from the rules regarding seal crackers or bombs was denied.
“The ASC was very clear that seal crackers are not allowed to be used on ASC-certified farms, yet we now have evidence showing Huon Aquaculture used thousands of seal crackers, and Tassal used hundreds, in the first half of 2024. Both companies are ASC-certified but that is now outrageous. If the ASC continues to certify Tasmanian salmon, they will destroy any remaining credibility that their international standard holds,” said Alistair Allan, Antarctic and Marine Campaigner at Bob Brown Foundation.
“Consumers are being betrayed right now. As a consumer, it is impossible to know if the salmon you buy comes from a farm that shoots or bombs native wildlife such as seals. What makes it worse is that you are now completely misled as a consumer, because these products come with ASC certification which explicitly states that the use of seal crackers is prohibited.”
“Tasmanian salmon companies are completely negligent, and even belligerent, when it comes to protecting Tasmania’s environment and wildlife. In Macquarie Harbour, they are driving the Maugean skate to extinction and now, in Storm Bay and elsewhere, they are killing seals and dolphins. The ones they don’t kill are maimed or injured by shooting anti-riot beanbags at them or throwing seal crackers on their heads.”
“Bob Brown Foundation demands that ASC and WWF drop certification of all Tasmanian salmon until consumers can be certain that the salmon they are buying doesn’t come from a farm that bombs native wildlife, as per their own standards. The shocking evidence of marine wildlife suffering due to the toxic salmon industry is further evidence why they need to be removed from our waters.”
Dear Aquaculture Stewardship Council, 29/08/2024
I am writing to demand that the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) drops its certification of Tasmanian salmon farms that continue to use seal crackers, despite ASC’s refusal to provide an exemption on their use in early 2024. In flagrant disregard of that ruling, the latest numbers show that all three companies are routinely using seal crackers.
Huon Aquaculture’s total use in the first half of 2024 was 1522 seal crackers.
Tassal’s total use in the first half of 2024 was 291 seal crackers.
Petuna’s total use in the first half of 2024 was 52 seal crackers.
It is clearly stated in ASC’s own rules for certification that there is a zero-tolerance for use of acoustic deterrent devices (ADDs) or acoustic harassment devices (AHDs) during the farming cycle.
1522, 291 and 52 seal crackers respectively are not just one or two crackers here and there, it is a systematic and continued use of ADDs in defiance of the ASC Standard.
For consumers relying on ASC certification, it is a complete betrayal of what the ASC Standard is meant to represent. Consumers purchasing Tasmanian salmon can not know if they are contributing to the harassment, injury and death of native Australian wildlife.
It is worse because consumers are being actively misled into believing they are not contributing to the harassment, injury and death of native Australian wildlife,
Further, ASC cannot guarantee that salmon that has been farmed in areas that use seal crackers is not laundered through the supply chain, as no Tasmanian farmed salmon currently provides information on the packaging indicating which lease and farm it comes from.
As a result, to protect the integrity of the ASC certification globally, we are demanding that the ASC cease the certification of all Tasmanian salmon produced by Huon Aquaculture, Tassal and Petuna until it can show supply chain evidence and guarantee the consumer that the product, they are purchasing meets all of the rules and provisions of the ASC Standard.
Sincerley
Alistair Allan – Antarctic and Marine Campaigner
