IT SOUNDS VERY FISHY

Anglers hook hundreds of identical big salmon Huon maintains only ‘some’ lost in storm

A SUDDEN bonanza of Atlantic salmon more than 10,000km from their natural habitat has shareholders raising questions about just how many fish Huon Aquaculture lost during Hobart’s wild storm.

Anglers lined up shoulder-to-shoulder have been hooking hundreds of similar-sized salmon one after another around Midway Point and Cremorne during the past few days.

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies scientist Jeremy Lyle said it was almost certain the fish were Huon escapees.

But Huon has so far refused to reveal how many fish got out during the May 10 storm, saying only the losses were not enough to inform the stock exchange — and nowhere near the 600,000 figure claimed by the Greens.

Huon shareholder and activist Stephen Mayne said the company needed to tell its investors more: “If you’re perceived to be secretive, it just eats into your credibility and trust.”

A SUDDEN bonanza of salmon more than 10,000km from their natural habitat has shareholders raising questions about just how many fish Huon Aquaculture lost during Hobart’s wild storm.

Anglers are reporting hundreds of similar-sized salmon, believed to have escaped from Storm Bay fish pens, have been hooked around Midway Point and Cremorne, many weighing 6-7kg.

Huon has admitted to losing some fish during the savage storm on May 10-11, along with several pieces of equipment, when Storm Bay’s swell was measured at 11m.

But it has refused to reveal how many fish escaped, maintaining the losses were not enough to inform the Australian Securities Exchange and nowhere near the 600,000 figure suggested by the Greens.

Rival salmon producer Tassal has said it lost no fish during the storm.

Atlantic salmon are not native to Tasmanian waters.

Their natural habitat is the North Atlantic and North Pacific at least 13,000km away.

Huon shareholder and activist Stephen Mayne said the company needed to tell its investors more.

“In times like this, transparency is the best solution,” Mr Mayne told the Mercury.

“If you’re perceived to be secretive, it just eats into your credibility and trust.”

A Huon spokeswoman said the company stood by its earlier statements, but was unable to respond yesterday to the new developments.

Meanwhile, anglers rushed to McGees Bridge on the Midway Point causeway.

Aaron Flakemore and mate Adrick MacDonald

landed four 6-7kg Atlantic salmon after success on Tuesday.

Hundreds of other fishermen have crowded the bridge since Friday with more in boats and kayaks.

“There are literally fish being hauled in and dropped on the ground,” said Mr Flakemore, of Risdon Cove.

“It’s an event.”

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies scientist Jeremy Lyle said it was almost certain the fish were Huon escapees.

But fishers will need to be quick, he said, with the salmon unlikely to survive in the wild for more than a couple of months. “They’re not welladapted to feeding in the wild,” Dr Lyle said.

“They’re either predated upon by seals or sharks, they are caught by fishers or they effectively starve.

“Fishers will tell you that they’ll often get very skinnylooking salmon.”

Dr Lyle, who studied fish released in Macquarie Harbour on the West Coast, will begin surveying recreational fishers to get a better under- standing of where the salmon disperse to and how long they live.

Huon’s losses were reported to the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.

Dr Lyle said environmental impacts were likely to be minimal, with escaped salmon illequipped to feed on native animals and with diseases al- ready present in the farming environment.

“There’s unlikely to be mass mortalities where they’re all together,” he said.

“They’re highly dispersed. There’s enough predators and scavenger fish out there to clean up.”

“It tasted pretty nice,” he said.

However, Mr Flakemore had not tasted his catch yet.

“I have to get some friends to help me eat it as it’s pretty big,” he said.

Mr Flakemore said most were using lures: “Metal slicers about 20g”.

The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment did not comment.