In Tasmania, grassroots alliance the Leave Our Waters Collective Australia (LOWCoAU) is fighting to protect the island’s precious marine ecosystems.

Comprised of filmmakers, artists, scientists, Indigenous elders, chefs, activists and community members, LOWCoAU aims to expose the environmental and cultural damage caused by industrial salmon farming in Tasmania’s coastal waters.

As we head into yet another state election they believe their message is now more important than ever.

Environmental filmmaker Mike Sampey along with producer Kirsten Bacon, LOWCoAU have responded to the need to raise even more awareness.

“I’m tired of hearing the same tired rhetoric:

‘Jobs will be lost,’ ‘The fishing industry will collapse,’ ‘People won’t survive,” said Bacon.

“But who’s actually talking to the fishermen? What do they think?”

Here are two stories, one from the south, one from the north from men who’ve spent most of their lives working Tasmania’s waters. Their insights cut through the noise.

“It’s time we started listening to those who live and work on the sea every day, not just politicians and industry lobbyists,” said Bacon.

Paul Wolf a professional fisherman was born and bred in the channel.

“Fished out, out the channel, out storm Bay, dad, grandfather, brothers, I used to row out in the bay, out in Charlotte’s Cove with my grandson, you know, and we’d get a good feed of flat. He’s just out of just out in the bay. Drop a line anywhere, get a feed. It was really good.

“Totally gone. To go to catch a flathead up there now with a good brown slime on the hook,” said Wolf.

Watch a short video of Wolf here.

Flinders Island used to have a thriving rock lobster industry. Now, Jack Wheatley is the last rock lobster fisherman on the island, and Jack’s been doing it for a very long time, about 70 years.

Watch a short video of Wheatley here.

Bacon continued, “The future of both recreational and commercial fishing in Tasmania has become a political issue.

“But at its core are much deeper debates, about fisheries management, the impact of industrial salmon farming and the true meaning of sustainability.

“We cannot continue as we are,” said Bacon.

Who is LOWCoAU

LOWCoAU rely on community donations to supplement their own funds. All films produced have been self-funded.

LOWCoAU highlights how open-net salmon farming devastates habitats, threatening species like the Maugean skate, red handfish, and Burrunan dolphin. They also reveal the disruption of whale migration and the use of lethal deterrents against protected seals, alongside the disregard for Indigenous cultural practices.

To raise awareness, LOWCoAU produces documentaries such as ‘A Toxic Future?‘ featuring Essie Davis, ‘Too Cute to Shoot‘ about seal culling and ‘The Heart of the Island‘ focusing on Flinders Island. These films are screened at community events to foster public dialogue and action.

Collaborating with groups like Neighbours of Fish Farming (NOFF) and as part of the Global Salmon Farming Resistance, LOWCoAU drives campaigns like ‘Off the Table’ which urges restaurants to remove farmed salmon. They also lead public education efforts on the environmental costs of farmed salmon.

Tasmanian Times (TT) is a community-based news and current affairs service covering the island state of Tasmania. It exists to provide a diverse view of Tasmanian issues. TT creates and supports independent media content utilising the best of modern technologies and tried-and-true practices of public-interest journalism.

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