Media release – Neighbours of Fish Farming, 19 September 2024
NOFF demands immediate end to salmon hatcheries polluting Tasmanian rivers
Latest report reveals alarming collapse of fish stocks downstream
More proof has emerged that multinational salmon companies are discharging damaging effluent into Tasmanian rivers, threatening waterways and fish stocks downstream from salmon hatcheries.
And it’s taken the initiative of one Queensland-based angler to reveal it.
The work of angler, Geoff Baker, highlights the lack of oversight and lax regulations by the EPA that has resulted in numerous such incidents over the years – often reported by fishers because the EPA has abrogated its responsibilities to monitor waterway health.
NOFF calls for these ‘flow-through’ hatcheries to be shut down across the state.
Geoff Baker’s investigation, first published in the Tasmanian Inquirer , on the South Esk River is just one amongst many over the years where anglers and communities have raised the alarm and the EPA has done nothing.
“There’s simply no excuse for this appalling behaviour from companies that laughingly claim ‘world’s best practice’,” says Peter George, NOFF president, quoting the report revealing pollution below the Huon Aquaculture smolt farm at Millybrook, on the South Esk River.
“Huon, a Brazilian-owned company with a dreadful international environmental reputation, already boasts it has a working hatchery that recycles its water and causes no pollution at Whale Point on the Huon River, so it has absolutely no excuse.
“Why should Huon be allowed to get away with anything different on the South Esk and why is the EPA failing to monitor the discharge and to tighten regulations?
“Tassal and Petuna, as well as Huon, need to guarantee their waste will not pollute Tasmanian rivers – or pay the price in substantial penalties, convictions in the courts and, if necessary, loss of licences.
“This is yet another case in which it’s taken the work of an individual angler to do what the EPA should have done years ago – raise the alarm and take action.”
Biographical details of Geoff Baker from Tasmanian Inquirer:
Geoff Baker, a retired Queensland charter fishing skipper and an avid trout fisherman, raised concerns about the farm after setting up camp in June to watch trout migrate up the South Esk River.
Baker has visited Tasmania for 30 years and fished the river for more than a decade, sometimes with good results. “The average fish was four pounds regularly. But I’ve noticed a decline over the years, especially two years ago when I was here, there were very few fish. And then this year, there were none to be seen,” he said.
Surprised at the lack of fish in the river, Baker said he went upstream from his camp towards the Millybrook smolt farm turning over rocks to check for insect life. “I found that there was no insect life as well, which indicates poor water quality.”
He said he bought a water testing kit and took four samples in early July. A sample taken about two kilometres upstream from the farm gave a result of 8.2 – a more alkaline level than the reading of 6 at the outfall, indicating acidic water.
