Seal attacks fish worker

A SALMON farm worker is recovering after being attacked by a seal in a fish pen.

The Huon Aquaculture wildlife officer was trying to remove a seal from one of the company’s pens at Storm Bay on Bruny Island when he was bitten about noon yesterday.

The man, in his early 50s, was treated in hospital for cuts to his leg. The Australian Workers Union said it was lucky the injury was not worse.

A MAN was attacked and injured by a seal while working at a salmon farm at Storm Bay, off Bruny Island yesterday.

The Huon Aquaculture wildlife officer, believed to be aged in his early 50s, was trying to remove a seal from one of the company’s pens when he was bitten about noon.

The seal was a male and weighed 180-200kg.

The wildlife officer, who sustained a laceration to his hamstring that required stitches, was taken to Hobart Private Hospital for treatment.

The Australian Workers Union, which represents aquaculture workers, said it was fortunate the injury was not worse.

“We’re very lucky today that the injured worker is very experienced at what he does and that the injury was not lifethreatening,’’ AWU Tasmanian assistant branch secretary Robert Flanagan said.

“But it still happened despite sophisticated processes being put in place to protect the worker.”

Huon Aquaculture’s corporate affairs manager Pene Snashall said the company was concerned about the incident, but said the work did pose some risk.

“It does happen, and that’s why we have dedicated wildlife officers to make sure we are doing what we can to protect the animals but also to keep our staff safe,’’ she said.

Ms Snashall said the company followed a stringent government framework around seal management.

“The government were aware of the activity we’ve been undertaking today. We have to get approval from them and only some of our staff were permitted to do this,’’ she said.

“It also highlights the fact that these are really aggressive, full-on animals.”

Mr Flanagan said incidents involving seals were regular in the industry, but said aquaculture companies have systems in place to protect employees from injury.

“Being bitten is at the extreme end of incidents,’’ he said.

“Our real concern is whether the focus of that framework places too much emphasis on the protection of the seals, and exposes workers unnecessarily to potential risk and harm.”

Mr Flanagan called for a review of seal management guidelines.

Ms Snashall said the incident had been reported to the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.