Huon stands by its global reputation as first-rate salmon farmer

Peter Bender says his fish-farming company has the runs on the board

AS a founding member of the Tasmanian salmon industry, co-founder of Huon Aquaculture, with 30-plus years’ farming experience, recent claims in Talking Point by Ian Johnston warrant challenge.

This industry is highly transparent, highly regulated, we invest significantly in continuous improvement and research and development (since 2012, Huon has invested more than $200 million in research and development) and we make decisions based on fact, data and science.

I question how anyone who has not visited our farm can make claims about stocking densities. At maximum biomass the percentage by volume of fish in our pens is 1 per cent — the lowest stocking density in the world.

Huon routinely submits our fish for testing by the Federal Government and since we began reporting to the National Residue Survey in 2000 there has been no detection of any additives, anthelmintics, contaminants, hormones or insecticides in Huon Aquaculture products — because none are added.

We publish the test results on our website, and we have previously provided Mr Johnston with links to this information.

For more than a decade, the publicly available Broadscale Environmental Monitoring Program for D’Entrecasteaux

Channel and Huon River has shown that salmon farming is having no significant or adverse environmental effects.

The BEMP program has long been the only fish farm monitoring program in the world assessing effects outside AZEs (Allowable Zone of Effect) or close to/inside the farms. Our pen sites and the control areas are monitored by underwater remotely operated vehicles on a monthly basis.

This information is recorded and reported to the regulator but, like any good farmer, we also review to determine if areas need less stocking or fallowing. The seabed like any paddock must be managed sustainably or we cannot continue to farm.

We think being the first, and still the only, seafood producer/farmer in Australia to be included in RSPCA Australia’s Approved Farming

Scheme says it all about our commitment to fish welfare.

A suggestion is made that the industry should move its farming operations into deep water ocean. Huon has been farming offshore for over five years. If people want to see beneath these pens for themselves, they can view unedited footage on our website.

My company’s most recent communication with Mr

Johnston was December 31 in which we agreed that the quality of Tasmanian products is one that resonates with us.

The Huon Aquaculture brand, alongside the Tasmanian brand has been promoted, enhanced and showcased across the breadth of Asia, parts of Europe and the US. We have had both a company and Tasmanian branded presence in the discerning Japanese market for over 30 years where our Huon product achieves a premium price and is seen as the highest quality, freshest and most sustainable salmon available. While we have been establishing markets across Asia we have also supported many other Tasmanian producers and suppliers. We have introduced many to new opportunities as we have always taken the attitude that when overseas we are not competitors, but proud Tasmanians sharing our story of place and people.

THE SEABED LIKE ANY PADDOCK MUST BE MANAGED SUSTAINABLY