RSPCA remove certification from Huon Aquaculture permanently following investigation
Two weeks after revoking its certification for a salmon giant’s products, the RSPCA has stood firm on their removal. Why community groups are now concerned about new federal law changes.
Tasmania
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RSPCA Australia has revoked animal welfare certification for a major Tasmanian salmon farmer as the Prime Minister flags a watering down of environmental laws for the benefit of industry.
The change means there are currently no Tasmanian producers certified to the RSPCA standard of animal welfare for salmon.
On March 6 RSPCA Australia suspended Huon’s certification for 14-days after video emerged of workers sealing live salmon in crates with dead salmon.
RSPCA informed Huon on Thursday, 20 March that their certification had been withdrawn.
RSPCA Australia CEO Richard Mussell acknowledged the withdrawal was based on a single incident but said it reflected how seriously the organisation takes actions that compromise animal welfare.
“Fish, including those farmed for human consumption, are sentient beings and, like other animals, can experience pain and suffering,” Mr Mussell said.
“When they’re farmed for food, the welfare of fish must be front of mind,”
Huon general manager for stakeholder and government relations Hannah Gray said Huon was “extremely disappointed” over the RSPCAs decision and was “committed to upholding our high standards of animal welfare”.
Also on Thursday a coalition of community groups turned out on Hobart’s Parliament Lawns at a snap rally against flagged federal law changes to benefit industry.
The energetic crowd in the hundreds was concerned planned changes to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act would benefit industries like “big salmon” to the detriment of the environment.
On Thursday Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the changes to the “flawed” EPBC Act were for the benefit of industry.
A spokesperson for the prime minister called for bipartisan support of the changes and said the government would legislate to “amend the flawed EPBC Act to secure jobs and local industries”.
CEO of Salmon Tasmania, the peak body representing the interests of the industry, Luke Martin said it was apparent the issue had become a “political football”.
“We are looking forward to seeing the details of the legislation like everyone else and getting some certainty for the workers of the West Coast,” he said.
At the rally in Hobart Greens Senator Nick McKim agreed the laws were flawed but said it was because they weren’t fit for the purpose of protecting the environment.
“In the middle of an environmental, social and animal welfare catastrophe it is beyond belief that Labor has now decided they are going to work with Peter Dutton under the cover of the budget to smash through legislation to weaken Australia’s environment laws,” Mr McKim said.
The Australia Institute spokeswoman Eloise Carr said the legislation was an “abuse of due process”, overriding normal parliamentary processes and a current review of fish farming in Macquarie Harbour.
“It’s extremely concerning that for once when the National Nature Law appears to be doing what it’s supposed to do – that is protecting world heritage- that they are going to rip it up so that industries can continue to destroy it,” Ms Carr said.
She said the changes would benefit industry and remove the right for communities to have decisions reviewed when new science and evidence comes to light.
She said the latest IMAS data showing improvements in population numbers was tentatively good news for the skate and not a “green light” for the salmon industry in the region.
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Originally published as RSPCA remove certification from Huon Aquaculture permanently following investigation
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