Salmon industry support mixed

A SLIM majority of Tasmanians support salmon farming, but the vast majority do not believe monitoring is adequate, according to the Mercury’s Big Issues survey.

When asked if they supported salmon farming in the state, 50.47 per cent of respondents said yes and 40.53 said no. Almost 55 per cent said they did not buy or consume Tasmanian-grown salmon.

The results were more emphatic on the question on whether monitoring of the impacts of salmon farms was adequate – with 78.5 per cent answering no and just 21.4 per cent saying yes.

The industry welcomed the survey results, but Neighbours of Fish Farming (NOFF) described them as a “shocker”.

Salmon Tasmania chief executive Sue Grau said the survey showed support for the industry was strong.

“A great outcome of this survey is the recognition that Tasmanians really do love their salmon,” she said.

“When you consider the abundance and availability of seafood options in Tasmania, the fact that nearly 50 per cent of Tasmanian’s are consuming salmon as their seafood of choice is something to be very proud of.”

Ms Grau said the high levels of regulation that underpinned farming practices were not widely understood.

“This is despite the 2015 Senate Inquiry Report into Tasmanian Finfish Regulations highlighting that the industry complies with nearly 70 Commonwealth and Tasmanian Acts and 672 regulations, making it one of the most comprehensive and stringent frameworks developed globally,” she said.

“It is our industry’s aim to now create a greater understanding, throughout the Tasmanian community, of how our regulatory system works and how it is strictly applied to salmon farming.”

NOFF president Peter George said support for the industry had collapsed. “The Mercury’s survey of its readers is a shocker for the multinational-owned salmon industry and for the Tasmanian politicians who blindly cave-in to its demands,” he said.

“The collapse will accelerate as the rapacious industry crams more and more fish cages into Tasmania’s South-East waters and colonise Bass Strait.

“Four out of five Tasmanians recognise the abject failure of the government’s policing of the industry’s impact on marine life, waterways and coastal communities while most refuse to eat salmon because of its toxic reputation.”

Mr George said NOFF supported salmon farming, but only if it was moved on to land and he hoped the government and industry would heed “growing demand for change”.

Premier and Acting Primary Industries Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the salmon industry was sustainably managed and was one “we should all be proud of”.

“It employs thousands of Tasmanians, sustainably produces over 30 per cent of Australia’s seafood by value and contributes much to Tasmania‘s unique brand,” he said.

Mr Rockliff encouraged readers who took part in the survey to contribute to consultation currently under way on the government’s draft Tasmanian salmon industry plan.

Tasmanians really do love their salmon SALMON TASMANIA CEO SUE GRAU