Tasmanian producers take on the critics

THE salmon industry in Tasmania has hit back at its critics, with a robust defence of its track record and strong words for a protest culture that it says is funded by tax breaks.

Industry body Salmon Tasmania has launched a campaign using social and traditional media, with the theme “Tassie, we need to talk about salmon”.

Salmon Tasmania CEO Sue Grau said: “Activists have had a free run up until now. This clear air has allowed them to mislead the community with what is at times absurd misinformation. The time has come to confront the misinformation head on and have an honest and open conversation with the people of Tasmania.”

Salmon Tasmania points out that previous protest movements have targeted Tasmania’s hydroelectric schemes and the forestry industry, before turning their attention to fish farming. It claims that the protesters are well funded, with full-time staff and enjoying tax-free donation revenue.

Communications Director Stuart Harris commented: “We are really excited about taking a different approach to dealing with this issue. False stories and incorrect information have been seeded in the community over a long period of time, so we needed a fun and light-hearted way to engage in what is a very serious conversation. We hope that the way we are delivering it makes it something that the community will listen to and that our people will be proud of”.

The campaign addresses questions like “Do you dye the salmon’s flesh pink?”, “Why don’t you just move onto land?” and “Is there mountains of fish poo under the nets?”

The opening episodes of the campaign can be viewed at: www.facebook.com/SalmonTasmania www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pALPOrKPY&t=6s salmontasmania.au/savour