<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/oct/24/calls-for-answers-after-tasmanian-salmon-die-in-macquarie-harbour-fish-farms>
"Environmentalists are calling on the Tasmanian salmon industry to explain why
more than 1,000 tonnes of salmon died in fish farms in Macquarie Harbour over
seven months last spring and summer.
A government document published after a request by the Neighbours of Fish
Farming, a group that campaigns against commercial salmon operations, suggest
1,150 tonnes of fish died in farms in the vast harbour on the state’s west
coast between September and March.
The highest mortality rate was in January (314 tonnes) and December (266
tonnes). The group’s president, Peter George, said the figures suggested more
than 10% of salmon stocks in the harbour had died, possibly due to overstocking
and disease, which he described as a common issue in the industry.
“The actual causes need to be publicly disclosed,” George said. “As these
mortalities have occurred in Macquarie Harbour, a public waterway, we need an
explanation from the industry about what the hell is happening there.”
Luke Martin, the chief executive of the industry group Salmon Tasmania, said
the figure was not related to the health of Macquarie Harbour, which has been
under question due to the impact of fish farms on the Maugean skate, an
endangered ancient ray-like species endemic to the area.
A group of some of Australia’s leading scientists this week urged the federal
environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, to remove fish farms from the harbour to
save the skate population, which fell sharply last decade as salmon stocks
increased and dissolved oxygen (the amount of oxygen present in water) levels
fell."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
