Primary Industries Minister Jane Howlett: Dead salmon chunks don’t cause human disease but don’t touch

In the wake of a mass fish death that has seen chunks of dead salmon washing up on beaches in Southern Tasmania, the state government has been forced to clear the air over the issue.

Imaged supplied by the Bob Brown Foundation showing fish matter washed up on Bruny Island

Primary Industries Minister Jane Howlett says chunks of dead salmon that have washed up on Southern Tasmanian beaches in the past fortnight “do not cause human disease” but has also warned people not to touch or consume them.

The lumps of salmon fat and carcasses appearing at Verona Sands and Bruny Island over the past fortnight were the result of a mass fish mortality event caused by a bacterial infection that has left aquaculture companies reeling.

A Biosecurity Tasmania spokesperson has confirmed that recent diagnostic testing found that the bacterium affecting the farmed salmon was known as Piscirickettsia salmonis (P. salmonis).

Primary Industries Minister Jane Howlett. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The spokesperson also noted that the chunks of dead salmon found at Verona Sands beach in mid-February were “consistent with fish oil” and posed “very little animal health or biosecurity risk for the known pathogens”.

However, local community members, environmental groups, and the Greens have slammed the state government for not responding to the incident quickly enough and have raised concerns about the potential environmental impacts of the mortality event.

No public warnings against touching or coming into contact with the salmon chunks were aired until Tuesday this week, despite the issue first arising more than two weeks ago and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) launching an investigation on February 21.

"Foul-smelling chunks" washed up on Verona Sands beach. Picture: Neighbours of Fish Farming.

Independent Braddon MP raised the fish mortality event in parliament on Wednesday, asking Primary Industries Minister Jane Howlett when the diagnostic testing had been finalised, which strain of P. salmonis was affecting farmed salmon, and when the public would be provided details about an emergency disease response plan.

Ms Howlett said the government acknowledged “the community concerns about this matter”.

“I’m advised that testing undertaken by the EPA has demonstrated the fatty substances are derived from fish and/or fish oil. The bacteria infection causing the mortalities does not cause human disease,” she said.

Imaged supplied by the Bob Brown Foundation showing fish matter washed up on Bruny Island

“The advice remains not to handle or consume dead fish or such substances. If you do touch them, wash your hands. Importantly, beaches remain open for use and no advice has been issued contrary to this.”

Salmon Tasmania CEO Luke Martin said the industry was “confident we are past the worst” of the mortality event and salmon companies were “engaging fully with the EPA and other regulatory bodies”.

“It is certainly taking its toll on our workers who have been dealing with a really tough situation under intense scrutiny,” he said.

Salmon Tasmania CEO Luke Martin. Picture: Linda Higginson

Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said it was her understanding that P. salmonis had been responsible for “decimating farmed salmon populations worldwide and collapsing Chile’s industry altogether”.

“The EPA and salmon farming companies need to be transparent with Tasmanians. We need to know the full extent of the farmed salmon deaths, and what is being done to reduce the impacts on the Tasmanian people and environment,” she said.

Originally published as Primary Industries Minister Jane Howlett: Dead salmon chunks don’t cause human disease but don’t touch