Salmon off menu in island protests

DEPUTY Premier Jeremy Rockliff has urged King Island companies to reconsider a boycott of salmon products, after nine cafes and restaurants moved to take the fish off their menus.

King Island locals have raised concerns about the permit granted by Mr Rockliff to Tassal to investigate salmon farming off Nine Mile Beach, on the island’s east coast.

For the Ocean Dunes King Island Hotel, the boycott means removing a baked Atlantic salmon and a salmon salad from the menu.

Manager John Smith said the boycott was about sending a message the island was serious about its opposition to potential nearby fish farming.

“The general consensus from all of King Island is that we don’t want any fish farms,” he said.

“To let people know that we’re serious about it I’ve taken the step of banning it from the hotel, and there’s quite a few other businesses around the island who are also doing the same thing.”

Locals and visitors will also no longer be able to enjoy the King Island Bakehouse’s smoked salmon quiche, but owner Audrey Hamer believes her customers will support the decision.

“Customers will miss it, but they understand exactly why. I haven’t met one person on the island that’s for it [fish farm],” Ms Hamer said.

Mr Rockliff said the boycott was unfair to salmon companies, and potentially set a “dangerous” precedent for an island reliant on primary industries.

A Tassal spokesman said the company was sorry to hear about the boycott.

“Our intention is simply to understand if salmon farming is even possible and to consult with the community,” he said.