Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 25 February 2025

Diseased-salmon waste continues to wash up on Bruny Island

Residents on Bruny Island have sent Bob Brown Foundation photos of more salmon fat washing up on their local beaches.

Bob Brown Foundation is calling for all farms to be completely destocked and shut down to prevent further spread of bacteria and for the salmon companies to confirm they are not selling infected salmon to the public.

“A crisis is unfolding on our waterways. The salmon industry is completely out of control with hundreds of thousands of salmon suffering and dying. The EPA must shut down these factory farms,” said Alistair Allan, Bob Brown Foundation Antarctic and Marine Campaigner.

“We still don’t have any answers from the EPA on what exactly is killing these animals. There is more than one strain of Rickettsia, and some strains can infect native fish, which would be catastrophic for the marine environment.”

“Today, hundreds of people protested the sale of toxic farmed salmon with many coming for the first time because of their disgust at rotten fish washing up on shore.”

“This industry has to get out of Tasmania’s waters now. The public has seen its true face and want it gone. It’s time for the salmon industry, and their political backers in the major parties, to stop thumbing their noses to Tasmanians and our unique waterways.”

Day of action demands Hill Street Grocer stop selling toxic farmed salmon

Today, Bob Brown Foundation and concerned community members have protested out the front of every Hill Street Grocer in Tasmania demanding that they stop selling toxic farmed salmon.

The action comes off the back of Bob Brown Foundation meeting with Hill Street Grocer, when their management declared that they would stop selling the product if their customers wanted them to.

The action also comes at a time where outrage is high in the community, with mass deaths of diseased salmon occurring and rotting salmon fat and carcasses washing up on local beaches. So far, hundreds of thousands of salmon have died, with horrific images captured of fish being dumped in landfill and garbage skips.

“Rotting salmon fat and carcasses washing up on local beaches is a complete affront to the Hill Street Grocer reputation of quality produce and freshness and damages their brand,” said Alistair Allan, Antarctic and Marine campaigner at Bob Brown Foundation.

“We have been outside individual Hill Street Grocer stores consistently for the last 5 months and every time we are there, most customers sign our petition asking them to stop selling toxic farmed salmon.”

“Hill Street Grocer said they have stopped selling salmon from Macquarie Harbour, but that isn’t true. They still have smoked salmon that can be traced to Macquarie Harbour. They also buy from Huon Aquaculture, who routinely injures and kill seals, and are currently battling a huge outbreak of disease and death in their factory farms. People around Australia have seen just how much suffering, disease and death is involved with factory farmed salmon this week. The public is horrified. Imagine how good it would be for those people to have a place to shop that doesn’t take part in this gross industry.”

“Hill Street Grocer knows how damaging this product is to Tasmania. As a Tasmanian supermarket, it’s time they stood up for Tasmania’s oceans and for the communities that love them. We have been protesting to Woolworths and Coles, but those big companies are totally happy to destroy Tasmania’s waters. Hill Street Grocer does not have to be like those uncaring mega chains. They have a chance to show their communities that they care about our environment. The CEOs of Hill Street Grocer can no longer stand by this product. They will be celebrated by Tasmanians and hailed as the supermarket of choice in Tasmania if they listen to their communities and stop selling toxic farmed salmon,” said Alistair Allan, Antarctic and Marine campaigner at Bob Brown Foundation.

Courtesy BBF, photographer Nina Hamilton.

Media release – Eric Abetz, Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, 25 February 2025

Bob Brown Foundation harassing Tasmanian family business today

While most hard-working Tasmanians go to work today, Bob Brown’s anti-everything brigade are busy holding up customers at one of Tasmania’s most iconic small supermarkets.

In a bid to stop Hill Street Grocer, a family business, stocking and selling Tasmanian salmon – the protesters are bullying people to not shop locally.

This is nothing short of a disgrace.

It’s un-Australian and indicative of everything the BBF represent.

I would encourage every Tasmanian to thumb their nose at the BBF and deliberately buy Tasmanian salmon at your local Hill Street Grocer today.

We will always support Tasmanian small businesses and the industry that supports thousands of jobs.