Communities force salmon industry to reduce harmful practices - NOFF calls for total ban on explosives and projectiles as seal deterrents

Community pressure to protect wildlife from harmful salmon industry practices has forced Atlantic salmon producer, Tassal, to drastically reduce its use of underwater explosives to deter protected fur seals around its feedlots.

Industry figures released by Tasmania's Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) show Tassal's use of the so-called "seal crackers" has now dropped to more closely match the two other foreign-owned salmon companies, Huon Aquaculture and Petuna.

However, the whole industry continues to use the "crackers" that can cause death, maiming and injuries in unconscionable numbers - using some 1,800 in the first six months of this year alone.

"NOFF and allied community and environmental groups have been battling harmful industry practices for years and were it not for their campaigning, the use of the so-called "crackers" would continue unabated & sight-unseen," says Peter George, president of NOFF.

"NOFF considers the use of these explosives as well as lead-weighted projectiles fired from shotguns - called "bean bags" - to be still too high. The use of harmful explosives that are known to injure, main and kill fur seals is a disgrace. In this year alone, more than 1,800 of these devices have been aimed at fur seals which are protected in Tasmania from anyone other than the industry.

"The international accreditation agency, Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) this year, under pressure from Tasmanian campaigners, refused to grant Tassal any exemption from its ban on the use of these explosives - yet Tassal continue to use them. NOFF will continue to press for a complete ban on harmful "deterrents" - none of which would be necessary if the industry followed international trends to move production on to land.

"Let's be very, very clear: It's only community pressure - not regulatory controls, government policy or accreditation agencies - that has forced the change in the industry's use of harmful practices."

According to NRE figures Huon Aquaculture - owned by Brazilian multinational, JBS - is now the biggest user of explosive deterrents.

Tassal is the only company reported by NRE to be using bean bag projectiles, using 111 in just six months this year - another practice that can kill, maim and injure fur seals.

More information:

• Jess Coughlan, campaigner: 0431 684 741
• Lisa Litjens, Vice president: 0400 461 624