Squiz Shortcuts - The fight over salmon farming in Tasmania

Your Shortcut to… The fight over salmon farming in Tasmania

There’s been a fight brewing in Tasmania for a while now between salmon producers, locals, and environmental groups - and the Albanese Government has now weighed in with new laws to protect the salmon industry. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll dive into:

• why salmon farming is on the nose with some Tasmanians

• what it's worth to the state

• and why it’s become an important issue in the upcoming federal election.

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What’s been happening with the Tassie salmon industry?
A lot lately… Debate over the future of salmon farming in the state has become a big political issue. There’s a lot of locals that depend on it for their livelihoods, but studies have shown it’s caused some problems for the environment and marine life. 

What’s it worth to the state?
It’s a billion-dollar industry for Tasmania. It contributes $770 million each year to the economy, which is more than either the dairy or beef industries - and it’s jumped to that amount in just 30-odd years. In that time, Aussies have gone from fresh salmon being an unusual inclusion in grocery shops to one that’s become quite common. 

How many salmon farms are there in Tassie?
As the demand has gone up, the amount of aquaculture, or fish farms, has grown too. There are now 18 licensed salmon farms around Tassie, and they’re run by 3 big companies - Huon, Tassal, and Petuna. They used to be in Aussie hands, but they’ve since been sold to foreign companies. 

How many people do they employ?
Between them, they directly employ around 2,000 people in Tassie, while indirectly supporting around 3,000 additional jobs - and according to a report by Salmon Tasmania, the industry accounts for 9 out of 10 jobs in the state’s regional areas. But lately, some of the practices of those producers have been really getting up the nose of locals. 

Do you mean that literally?
We do… Pieces of dead salmon and congealed lumps of fish oil have been washing up on beaches in the southeast after a mass fish death event…

Yikes… How did that happen?
It was caused by a naturally occurring strain of bacteria that some of the fish in those farms weren’t vaccinated against. And the way that some workers inhumanely disposed of the diseased fish was recorded, which has resulted in Huon’s accreditation from animal welfare charity the RSPCA being revoked. On top of all of that, the locals say they can’t swim because of the thousands of dead fish carcasses in the water, so it’s also impacting the tourism sector… 

Not ideal… where has it been happening?
Fish chunks have been washing up on the shores of some of the region’s pristine tourist areas like Bruny Island and the Huon Valley - and that’s not something they’d be putting in the brochure. The whole situation has sparked protests involving hundreds of people outside Tassie’s parliament…

So it’s a high-profile issue
Sure is… And that’s just one of several issues Tassie locals and environment groups have flagged as major problems caused by the salmon industry.

There’s more?
Yep, there are also claims of pollution and damage to marine habitats in the waterways, which they say is threatening endangered species. 

Which ones?
Specifically, the Maugean skate… 

Sorry… the what?
If you’ve never heard of it before - and plenty haven’t - the Maugean skate is a rare type of ray that’s listed as having world-heritage importance because it’s believed to date back to the Cretaceous period - that’s when dinosaurs were around. And it’s only known to be found in one place on Earth. 

Where is that?
Macquarie Harbour on Tassie’s remote west coast. One third of the harbour is World Heritage listed, and what’s happening to the skate was brought to the government’s attention after an Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies report showed that its numbers had nearly halved from 2014 to 2021. 

How many are left?
There are only about 4,000 of them left, and the report pointed the finger at salmon farms in the area for contributing to oxygen levels dropping in the water, which isn’t good for the health of the skate. And there’s a bit of background to all of this…

Fill me in
The federal government approved the expansion of salmon farms in the harbour back in 2012, but there has since been a legal challenge to those licences from environmental groups. That’s prompted Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to look into whether the approval was appropriate. She hasn’t given a timeframe for that, but the government has since committed $37 million to an oxygenation program to improve water quality for the skate. It’s also started a captive breeding program - and both have shown positive results. But it’s not just the skate that depends on the harbour…

Who else depends on it?
The hundreds of workers employed by the salmon farms that operate in the region. And that’s put some pressure on PM Anthony Albanese - because, in this coming election Labor needs every seat it can get if it wants to be re-elected. And 3 marginal seats, including the seat of Braddon where Macquarie Harbour is, are up for grabs in Tassie. That’s meant a lot of visits from the PM lately.

How many?
Reports say Albanese has been to Tassie no less than 20 times in the past few months, which gives you an idea of how important the state is to Labor’s election chances… And he’s looking to firm up those chances by introducing changes to national environment laws this week.

What changes will be made?
They’re changes to the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act which he says will ensure that salmon farming can continue in Macquarie Harbour sustainably. He says the industry is an important source of jobs, but also a great source of pride for the region and for all Aussies. 

Does he have support for the changes?
He’s copped some flak from within his own ranks after going over the top of Plibersek. And it comes after he sidelined an election promise to set up a national Environment Protection Agency. As for the Coalition, he has its support, but the Greens are opposed to the changes. 

What are the Greens saying?
Greens Senator Nick McKim has accused the PM of putting “foreign-owned corporate profits above the survival of Tasmania’s marine environment”. And then there’s the prominent Independent Senator from Tassie, Jacqui Lambie. She also reckons salmon farms should move offshore and “out of Macquarie Harbour”.

What about from the community?
The environment has always been a big factor with voters in the state, but reports say this is one fight that could see a further splintering of votes away from the major parties. And political commentators say that one seat where Labor could see a big backlash is Franklin.

Where is Franklin?
It’s in the south-east and covers the area where Hobart and Bruny Island are. It’s held by federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins - she’s responsible for salmon farming at a national level, and she’s facing opposition from Independent candidate and former ABC journalist Peter George, who has the backing of Climate 200… You might remember that organisation from the last election - it backed several of the Teal candidates that were elected.

What’s his platform?
He’s been a vocal opponent of the major parties' support for the salmon industry and he says Tasmanians have “had enough of it”.

Sounds like Tassie will be one to watch when the election rolls around…
It sure will. 

Onto our Recommendations

Listening: This episode of the ABC’s Tassiecast podcast dives a little deeper into the salmon industry vs the environment debate that’s shaping up. 

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