The Hill Street Grocer chain faced renewed protests today in New Town and West Hobart, as members of the Bob Brown Foundation and local community groups urged the company to stop selling farmed salmon. The demonstrations were sparked by recently released documents that detailed the death of a seal and numerous native birds at a Tassal fish farm.
Media Release – Bob Brown Foundation, 2 September 2025
Hill Street protests continue as seal deaths expose toll of farmed salmon
Bob Brown Foundation and community members protested outside Hill Street Grocer in Newtown and West Hobart today, renewing calls for the chain to stop selling toxic farmed salmon.
The protest comes just days after Right to Information documents revealed that an adult seal was shot with sedatives five times before finally drowning inside a Tassal fish farm pen. In the same month, 15 native birds were also recorded drowned at the site.
“Hill Street Grocer customers deserve better than salmon tainted with the suffering and death of Tasmania’s native wildlife. We are here again today because the public is horrified — toxic farmed salmon is destroying our oceans, killing our wildlife, and polluting Tasmania’s reputation,” said Alistair Allan.
“Hill Street Grocer says it prides itself on quality and Tasmanian values. But every packet of salmon they sell is linked to graveyards for seals and seabirds. They can show leadership now by refusing to profit from an industry built on cruelty and destruction.”
“We have been protesting Coles and Woolworths nationally, but Hill Street should separate itself from those massive corporations as a Tasmanian-focused business and stop selling industrial farmed salmon that is destroying Tasmania’s waters,” said Allan.
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