Tasmania’s salmon industry is at a crossroads. Following a recent mass mortality event, the state’s Premier, Jeremy Rockliff, has initiated a three-pronged plan to restore public trust. This plan includes a pause on expansion, the introduction of a Marine Environment Act, and, most critically, an independent review.
However, as the saying goes, ‘the devil is in the detail,’ and the success of this review hinges on its ability to be a meaningful, relevant, and actionable exercise rather than a cynical one.
The review’s Terms of Reference must be meaningful, relevant, and actionable and to that end we propose the following eight elements as a starting point.
The Unfolding Ecological Crisis
The mass mortality event in southeastern Tasmania was not an isolated incident.
It was preceded by a series of alarming ecological indicators. In November 2024, there was a super-abundance of gelatinous creatures known as salps. This was followed in December by unprecedented displays of bioluminescent algae and in January 2025 by a swarm of moon jellyfish. These species, which injure and kill salmon and native marine life, thrive in environments with high nutrient levels and a lack of predators.
This cascade of events points to a deeply distressed ecosystem. When an ecosystem is this vulnerable, it raises urgent questions about the potential for a crisis similar to what was seen in South Australia and how much more damage the environment can tolerate. This is beyond climate warming: these species thrive on high nutrient levels, and without predators or competitors, their populations explode.
Beyond the Salmon: The Collateral Damage
The focus on the mass mortality event has largely been on the salmon, but what about the other 99% of organisms in the ecosystem? It’s crucial to understand how other marine life was affected.
We must ask: which other organisms were impacted by the infectious microbe, Piscirickettsia salmonis? And in what ways were native species affected by the low oxygen levels caused by the high bacterial counts in the water?
The review must acknowledge this collateral damage to accurately assess the full scope of the environmental impact.
Ignoring Warnings and Questionable Practices
For years, scientists have warned that the industry’s growth was outpacing our ability to perceive risks. These warnings, which were seemingly ignored, have placed the industry on a boom-and-bust trajectory. A key part of the review should be to understand why these warnings were not heeded.
Furthermore, the revelation that diseased and moribund salmon were being harvested for human consumption is shocking. Selling food from diseased animals is illegal under the Food Act (2003). Yet, officials from the Chief Veterinary Officer to the Director of Public Health seemingly either gave their approval or looked the other way.
This raises a critical question: who signed off on this, and why has this information been kept from the public?
Stocking Density and an Arms Race
While the Premier’s plan pauses spatial expansion, it does not restrict increasing stocking density. The statewide limit is 15 kg per cubic meter, but areas like the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, Huon, and Storm Bay allow for 25 kg per cubic meter.
To put this in perspective, that’s the equivalent of five full-grown salmon in a space half the size of a standard shower cubicle. This raises the question: if an environmental collapse wasn’t enough to trigger a halt on growth, what criteria will?
Antibiotics Spiral: Threat to Human Health
The use of antibiotics in salmon farming also presents a significant risk. These are blunt weapons, killing both beneficial and harmful microbes. The survivors become more resilient, leading to an arms race where each application creates hardier pests.
The antibiotics used are also vital for treating human infections. When traces of these antibiotics are present in our food, the microbes in our bodies can develop antibiotic resistance, putting us all at risk. We need to ask: what is our exit strategy from this spiral?
Protecting Our Waters and Wildlife
Another major concern is the waste discharged from hatcheries into rivers. These concentrated nutrient outfalls, or ‘point sources,’ stimulate the growth of cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae), which produce neurotoxins linked to Motor Neurone Disease. Rather than waiting for new guidelines, a proactive, precautionary approach to drinking water safety is needed.
Seal Crackers: A Brutal Tool Harming Protected Species
Finally, the industry’s use of ‘seal crackers’ to deter seals is a horrifying practice. These mini-bombs shatter bones, blow eardrums, and torture the echolocation of protected species like dolphins and whales.
The review must address where the limit is in harming native species in the pursuit of profit.
We assert that addressing these eight critical questions is essential for restoring public trust in Tasmania’s salmon industry. The review must be a genuine effort to address the risks to public health and safety, protect native species, and define the industry’s proper place in Tasmanian commerce.
Dr Frank Nicklason is a physician with decades of experience diagnosing and treating people with neuro-degenerative diseases. Nicklason is President of Safe Water Hobart. Safe Water Hobart is a community organisation concerned with drinking water safety. safewaterhobart.org
Dr Lisa Gershwin is a leading, independent scientist with decades of research expertise and extensive publications in marine ecology. Gershwin is Vice-President of Safe Water Hobart.
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