A coalition of environmental and community groups has rejected the Liberal Government’s announced review of the industrial fin-fish farming industry, calling it a “political smokescreen” and demanding the immediate removal of all fish farms from the state’s waters.
In an 8 September 2025 letter to Jeremy Rockliff they expressed a “complete lack of confidence,” citing the government’s failure to act on the 68 recommendations from the 2022 Legislative Council Finfish Inquiry. They argue that further study is unnecessary, as “industrial salmon farms are causing significant harm,” and view the announced pause on expansion as a meaningless tactic to appease a destructive industry.
Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 26 September 2025
Environmental and community groups reject salmon review and call for fish farms to be removed from Tasmania’s waters.
Bob Brown Foundation and a coalition of environmental and community groups have written to Premier Rockliff to express a complete lack of confidence in his announcement of a review and study of Tasmania’s industrial fin-fish farming industry.
The letter, sent on 8 September 2025, has so far received no response from the Liberal government other than the premier saying it had been forwarded to Gavin Pearce MP.
Bob Brown Foundation is calling for the Liberal government to remove all fish farms from Tasmania’s waters.
“The Tasmanian public has had enough of this destructive industry. The 2022 Legislative Council inquiry into the industrial fin-fish industry recommended removing fish farms from biodiverse areas.
“That report has done nothing but gather dust on the premier’s desk.
“We don’t need more studies – it’s time to remove fish farms from Tasmania waters,” said Alistair Allan, Antarctic and Marine campaigner at Bob Brown Foundation.
“This review offers absolutely no change or promise of change. This industry is too far gone. Wherever toxic fish farms are located, they cause disease, suffering and pollution. Factory fish farms have to go.
This coming summer is predicted to be worse than the last, with an impending marine heatwave. The premier must act and remove fish farms before, yet again, millions and millions of fish suffer, die and wash up on Tasmania’s beaches,” said Allan.
Media Release – Neighbours of Fish Farming, 26 September 2025
Rockliff’s friendless salmon review a ‘political smokescreen’
NOFF has signed a letter to Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Tasmanian House of Assembly representatives, condemning his promise of a salmon industry review as a “political smokescreen”.
What is required of the Tasmanian Government is bold action to rein-in this destructive industry— not another review which will likely gather dust as reviews of the past have done.
The Legislative Council Fin-fish Inquiry Report published in 2022 includes 68 clear recommendations for improvement of the salmon industry —largely ignored by the government.
The Liberals’ promise also includes a moratorium on spatial expansion for the duration of the review.
The outcome of the recent state election clearly illustrates the growing support for a cross bench calling for salmon industry reform.
Franklin’s own Peter George achieving the third highest primary vote in the state, Craig Garland doubling his vote in Braddon and Kristie Johnston topping the poles in Clark, demonstrating that being ignored in their concerns voters are taking their anger to the booths.
“The increasing massive rallies along our beaches testifies to community anger about the practices of industrial salmon companies. It is time that the Government listened to the public and acted in good faith, rather than more stalling tactics to appease a growing foreign-owned industry intent on pollution and profits,over responsible environmental management.” said Jess Coughlan, Campaigner at NOFF
“A spatial expansion moratorium for a limited period is meaningless to the overall protection of Tasmania’s unique marine heritage. This promise reeks of a clause to allow increased stocking density, when in fact, we have a marine heatwave on the way and disease-causing bacteria rife throughout the South Eastern waterways— all the ingredients for scientists to recommend reduced stocking of all leases.” said Coughlan.
“Neighbours of Fish Farming represents the 7 in 10 Tasmanians who support Recommendation 3 of the 2022 Fin-fish Inquiry.
“We do not need public resources to be spent on yet another review, when all the actions required to clean up this industry have already been published.”
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