Huon Aqua loses RSPCA certification after shock drone footage
Drone footage from a Huon Aquaculture salmon pen lease has led to the loss of RSPCA’s tick of approval. Where to from here for the salmon giant.
Tasmania
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The RSPCA has suspended its certification of Huon Aquaculture and its products following the release of drone footage showing live fish being discarded alongside dead salmon.
The footage released on Thursday was captured by the Bob Brown Foundation at Huon Aquaculture’s South of Zuidpool Rock lease, with the fish believed to have been removed due to the outbreak of the marine bacterium Piscirickettsia salmonis.
In a statement released on Saturday, the RSPCA said the RSPCA Approved Certification Committee met on Thursday afternoon and decided to suspend Huon Aquaculture’s RSPCA Approved certification.
“The Certification Committee made the decision to suspend Huon Aquaculture’s certification, as an initial step, because of breaches of clauses 1.01 and 2.11 of the RSPCA Approved Standard,” an RSPCA spokesperson said.
These breaches include that employees must be appropriately trained and competent in their tasks and that fish must not be left to die in the air.
RSPCA confirmed the suspension would run for an initial 14 days while an investigation takes place.
“The inhumane handling of live, sick or injured fish as shown in the video being circulated is completely unacceptable,” a RSPCA spokesperson said.
“We will continue to follow our established processes in relation to this matter and will have more to say in due course.
“Fish are sentient animals capable of pain and suffering, which is why the RSPCA Approved Standard exists in the first place.”
Huon Aquaculture quickly responded to the loss of its certification, stating it was “participating fully” in the investigation.
“Huon has had a long association with the RSPCA, which set a higher standard for aquaculture practices in Australia,” a Huon Aquaculture spokesperson said.
Huon Aquaculture’s Stakeholder and Government Relations general manager Hannah Grey said the actions captured in the drone footage do not reflect Huon’s high standards and protocols.
“In normal operations, moribund fish are very rarely pumped during mortality retrieval, and humane euthanasia procedures are followed if necessary.
“Upon learning of these actions, Huon immediately informed the RSPCA and launched a full internal investigation.
“Huon has been transparent about the impact of the unprecedented disease outbreak that has resulted in mortality across salmon farms in southeast Tasmania.”
Bob Brown Foundation Antarctic and Marine Campaigner Alistair Allan said this breach should result in a complete stop to certifying the company.
“From massive fish deaths, leaving fish to suffocate, throwing explosive crackers on seals, to even shooting and killing of seals, Huon Aquaculture is an animal welfare disaster that the RSPCA must no longer have any part in,” he said.
“One of the RSPCA’s own five freedoms as part of their approved farming scheme is the freedom from pain, injury, or disease: by prevention, rapid diagnosis, and treatment.
“It is absolute clear that Huon, with millions of fish dying from disease due to overstocked pens, is in direct violation of this.”
Parks Minister Nick Duigan said his thoughts were with the staff at Huon Aquaculture “cleaning up” from the disease outbreak.
“It’s a pretty challenging situation,” he said.
“This is a very highly regulated industry in Tasmania,” he said.
“The environmental oversight comes from the independent EPA, it is working with the salmon companies to understand what needs to be done.
“It’s easy without all the information to make accusations.”
Mr Duigan said the government needs to know and understand more about the disease outbreak before it chooses a position on Huon Aquaculture’s actions.
Originally published as Huon Aqua loses RSPCA certification after shock drone footage
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