The Tasmanian government will halt marine expansion of the salmon industry in local waterways while an independent review is ordered.<\/p>\n
Salmon farms continue to grapple with the bacterial disease piscirickettsia salmonis, which led to an unprecedented mass mortality event in 2024, with the government currently seeking emergency approval for a new antibiotic to tackle the disease.<\/p>\n
Tassal diver Oliver Brewer said he and other workers will not shy away from a review, but “being used as a political tool to appease Greens and Independents” had brought uncertainty for them.<\/p>\n
“I have full faith in my industry that it will do the right thing and any review will have a positive outcome,” Mr Brewer said.<\/p>\n
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Marine expansion of the salmon industry in Tasmania will be halted while the independent review takes place. (Supplied: Bob Brown Foundation)<\/p>\n
The decision to review the industry and halt its growth comes after a letter Premier Jeremy Rockliff sent to the industry on July 2, which said a re-elected Liberal government would “not introduce moratoriums, bans or arbitrary caps on industry growth and will consider the science and sustainability of any proposal”.<\/p>\n
The letter also said the Liberals would “not trade the salmon industry in any way, shape or form in order to retain government”.<\/p>\n
It also follows last week’s government announcement to phase out the greyhound industry \u2014 which came after the party said it was committed to “support the longevity and sustainability of the racing industry”<\/a>.<\/p>\n Mr Brewer said it was difficult to see broader support for his industry wane over recent years.<\/p>\n “It’s always a shame to see that we’re ridiculed for the work that we do, and our industry is ridiculed for the work that we do, and it’s normally coming from a rather-baseless place where the science is not backing that up,” he said.<\/p>\n “And it’s always a shame to see that community support, you know, does dwindle sometimes.”<\/p>\n Salmon Tasmania chief executive John Whittington said he became aware that Mr Rockliff’s position on salmon farming had changed the night before it was announced \u2014 calling it “a shameless sellout”.<\/p>\n “The premier’s words are worthless and clearly no industry is safe,” Dr Whittington said. John Whittington says the “shameless” announcement shows the premier’s words are “worthless”. (ABC News: Madeleine Rojahn)<\/p>\n Review should be ’embraced’, premier says<\/p>\n Mr Rockliff said his government’s plan aimed to “ensure community sentiment and confidence increased in the industry”.<\/p>\n “This is not something the industry should fear. It’s actually something the industry should embrace,” Mr Rockliff said.<\/p>\n “Embrace the fact that we are wanting to support the industry become better.” Jeremy Rockliff says salmon farming has a “positive future” in Tasmania, despite the review. (ABC News: Mackenzie Heard)<\/p>\n He said his government believed the industry had a “positive future” in Tasmania.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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