Media release – Friends of the Bays Inc., 26 January 2024
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A newly formed community action group will conduct a peaceful protest at an Atlantic salmon industry-sponsored ocean swim event at tomorrow’s Sandy Bay Regatta.
Five surfing elders formed Friends of the Bays in the wake of Petuna Seafood’s application to install feedlots off Clifton Beach, Hobart’s most popular surfing beach.
“We won’t stand back and allow our recreational playground turned into a septic tank,” says Mick Lawrence, a leader of the state’s surfing community and president of Friends of the Bays.
The state government released a plan last year proposing to move future salmon farming from contentious ’shallow waterways’ to deeper waters further offshore. Mick Lawrence says Petuna’s proposed lease doesn’t meet the plan’s stated objectives.
“Locating a fish farm off Hobart’s most popular surf beach is unacceptable to the thousands of residents who to live on the peninsula for the lifestyle,” he says.
Tassal – which is sponsoring the swim – and Huon Aquaculture are also planning expansion of production in Storm Bay.
“It’s time the salmon industry put their words into action. They constantly claim ‘world’s best practice’ while denigrating those who advocate just that. We’re not against salmon farming, just the way it’s done in this state. World’s ‘best practice’ is growing salmon on land. It actually employs more people, reduces the use of antibiotics, eliminates polluting our waterways along with the need to bomb seals.”
A recent visit to Nova Scotia by members of NOFF revealed that In the northern hemisphere, salmon farming is moving into RAS – recirculating aquaculture systems. According to Peter George “It’s the future and we encourage the local industry to follow suit. The world needs to farm fish responsibly and sustainably and when they do instead of advocating against them, we’ll support them. It’s a win/win for everyone, especially Mother Ocean.”
Media release – Tasmanian Alliance for Marine Protection (TAMP), 26 January 2024
Protest against Hypocrisy
TAMP supports Friends of the Bay
The Tasmanian Alliance for Marine Protection (TAMP) supports plans to hold a peaceful protest at tomorrow’s Hobart Regatta Ocean swim sponsored by Atlantic salmon producer, Tassal.
“It’s utter industry hypocrisy to sponsor a waterborne event by a tax-avoiding foreign company like Tassal which is destroying the waterways and marine life of our state,” says Peter George, spokesperson for TAMP.
TAMP applauds the new group, Friends of the Bays and its Tasmanian surfing icons for stepping up to highlight the hypocrisy. Members of the statewide TAMP alliance will be there to support them.
“Tassal, Huon and Petuna are equally guilty of polluting Tasmanian waterways, are equally guilty in trying to preserve profits while allowing the Maugean skate to get closer to extinction in Macquarie Harbour and equally guilty of using harmful explosives and projectiles against protected fur seals.
Friends of the Bays are right in stating opposition to the industry is not based on anti-fish faming but on its practices. The Dennes Point Declarations makes this clear in urging the industry to move on to land in line with the global momentum.
