Tasmanian Fish Farms Just as Bad as the Rest of the World's Fish Farms

Just in from Environment Tasmania that stands up for the environment in one of the most southerly countries in the world, their take on the many problems with fish farms in Tasmania.

They will sound familiar: major non-compliance, fire crackers/bean bags harassing seals, farmed fish rated red, or don't buy, flawed accreditation schemes. Note their website at the bottom. Read on: 

          DC

What an extraordinary week where multiple spotlights have been shone in to the Tasmanian Salmon Industry. The release of an ASC audit (industry funded audit process) of Petuna seafood’s leases in Macquarie Harbour which found major non compliance and Petuna withdrawing from the certification process altogether. Then we have the revelation that Tassal staff fire loud crackers and lead pellet loaded “bean bags” at seals.  Just this year up to July 1, 1,250 beanbags and 8,856 crackers had been used. Not only are the seals very vulnerable to damage but we have yet another example of fish farms polluting waters. Next we had the highly respected sustainable fish eating guide produced by the Australian Marine Conservation Society recommend a just say no to Tasmanian Salmon. A red rating based on a rigorous review of all the available data. Lastly, an international audit of the accreditation body for much of the world’s salmon industry including Tasmanian producers found the accreditation flawed in many cases. The review found Australian Salmon farms frequently breach Australian Stewardship Council standards but still have the right to badge their products with the ASC stamp of approval. We are working very hard to protect our marine environment and we will bring about change.  Philip Cocker http://www.et.org.au/

Global Fight Against Fish Farms - Tasmania

Environment Tasmania has entered battle with Tassal fish farms that has fouled the ocean so much and had such negative effects on endangered species and wants to lecture kids in school to think they are environmentally sustainable.

Go here to sign the petition to keep Tassal out of schools: http://www.et.org.au/tassal_not_welcome_in_the_classroom?utm_campaign=tassal_schools&utm_medium=email&utm_source=environmenttasmania.

Here is the ET site: http://www.et.org.au/.

Here is the news release on the issue:

"To:Federal Minister for Education and Training, Senator the Hon. Simon Birmingham
CEO of the Primary Industries Foundation Australia, Ben Stockwin 

Please keep Tassal's corporate advertising out of our primary schools


Tassal have announced they are heading into schools to promote their salmon to kids. But with their soaring antibiotics use, marine dead zones, threats to endangered species and the formation of thick bacterial mats under their pens around Tasmania, Tassal gets a D minus in sustainability from us.

We know how important it is for kids to understand where our food comes, how it is grown and how to make the best choice as consumers. But when it comes to sustainable aquaculture Tassal has failed consistently in Tasmania. On the east coast of Tasmania Tassal are moving into endangered whale calving habitat, and on the west coast they have already pushed the endangered Maugean Skate to the brink of extinction. They’re planning to double production, which means farming new areas, and their track record suggests they’ll do so with scant regard for the concerns of locals, tourism operators and recreational fishers.

This is not what a truly sustainable salmon farming industry looks like, and it’s not what we want to be teaching the next generation. And with Tassal's product coming from unhealthy growing conditions, and the company's 75% spike in use of antibiotics listed by the World Health Organisation as very important for human health, there are real questions about how healthy Tassal's salmon is.

Tassal's corporate advertising has no place in our primary schools. We urge you to act to prevent Tassal's Salmon in Schools program from going ahead."

Sign here: http://www.et.org.au/tassal_not_welcome_in_the_classroom?recruiter_id=169165