Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 5 April 2025
Explosive revelation as Salmon Tasmania confirms salmon harvest for human consumption from infected pens
In an explosive piece in The Saturday Paper, the now former CEO of Salmon Tasmania has confirmed that salmon have been harvested for human consumption from infected pens. Salmon Tasmania has avoided answering the question as millions of salmon died from a disease outbreak in the factory salmon farms in Tasmania’s south.
“That diseased fish has gone from prohibited-in-law to what Luke Martin calls ‘perfectly safe for human consumption’ is a scandal heightened by the Rockliff government’s inertia and disregard for the justified public alarm. Martin is now disinfecting himself by walking away from the industry in a crisis on his watch which has damaged Tasmania’s brand across the world. The problem is that a foreign-owned industry is in control and the government has abandoned its duty to protect the health, welfare, and wider interests of the Tasmanian community,” said Bob Brown.
Bob Brown Foundation’s Alistair Allan is outraged that diseased fish from this mass mortality have been sold for human consumption and the Tasmanian government was complicit in the scandal.
“The truth is out now. Tasmanian farmed salmon is causing extinctions, polluting the oceans, and allowing millions of animals to suffer and die from disease all so they can sell you an infected and diseased fish at your local supermarket,” said Alistair Allan, Antarctic and Marine Campaigner.
“Consumers must now know, avoid this toxic product. There is nothing good about it. It’s not good for you, and it’s terrible for Tasmania.”
“This shocking revelation today shows how intentionally deceptive the salmon farming companies are. For months, the question has been asked if diseased fish are being sold for human consumption, and it was never answered by the salmon companies or Salmon Tasmania. Now we are told that diseased and infect fish from this mass-mortality have been sold for consumption and it’s perceived as ‘standard’. That means people have been eating potentially infected fish for months without knowing,” said Alistair Allan.
“Yet again, the polluting salmon industry is treating the Australian public with disdain. To be so actively misleading should shock everyone.”
“Today’s revelation also adds yet more credence to industry insider reports that fish that have died from the disease are being sold for human consumption,” said Alistair Allan.
The article also highlights many other highly concerning actions by the Tasmanian government and salmon companies during the outbreak of this disease.
Of particular note is that a complaint has been lodged alleging that salmon companies were harvesting diseased fish for human consumption in contravention of the Food Act 2003. The Tasmanian Food Act states that the product of a diseased animal is not suitable for human consumption and “it is immaterial whether the food concerned is safe.”
Bob Brown Foundation is calling for the harvesting of fish from diseased pens to halt immediately pending a independent inquiry into the disease outbreak and for fish farms to be removed from Tasmania’s waters.
The Saturday Paper article (paywalled):
Media release – The Australia Institute, 5 April 2025
Are Australians eating diseased salmon? Sickening new revelations from Tasmania
Shocking new revelations about Tasmanian salmon should leave all Australians feeling sick to the stomach.
The Tasmanian salmon industry has conceded that – following a recent mass death event on the state’s east coast – salmon from diseased commercial pens are being sold for human consumption.
It comes just days after the Albanese government and Dutton coalition worked together to ram through amendments to the Environmental Protection and Biosecurity Conservation Act, weakening the nation’s environment laws, specifically to protect the compromised salmon industry.
Questions now need to be answered by the federal Minister for Fisheries, Julie Collins, who is also the local member of Franklin in Southern Tasmania and has previously brushed aside problems with the salmon industry as a state issue.
It is now open for one of the multiple state ministers responsible for the Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE), including Eric Abetz and Jane Howlett, to show leadership and inform everyone what, if any, steps they will take to protect the Tasmanian community and economy from an industry that is out of control.
“The Saturday Paper’s revelations are deeply disturbing. Anyone still eating salmon should beware,” said Eloise Carr, Director, The Australia Institute Tasmania.
“Salmon Tasmania has admitted that diseased fish are being sold for human consumption. It is now also apparent that fish full of antibiotics are being sold on supermarket shelves.
“The failure of Luke Martin, the (now former) CEO of Salmon Tasmania, to answer The Saturday Paper’s question about withholding periods on antibiotics is astonishing.
“The failure to inform Australians about the use of antibiotics, by the industry and the Environmental Protection Authority, on the basis it is ‘commercial in confidence’ is simply not good enough.
“Once again, the regulation of this industry has completely failed Australians. But last week we saw the slashing of national regulation, where it should have been strengthened.
“This is now a serious health issue requiring investigation. It is also an environmental disaster.
“The revolving door of Salmon Tasmania CEOs is yet more evidence of an industry that is out of control.”
