Huon Aquaculture cleaning beach while source of “smelly, oily” pollution remains unknown

“Disgusting:” The origins of a “smelly, oily” substance that covered a Tasmanian beach is under investigation, but nearby residents believe the culprit has already begun cleaning up after itself. The latest.

Huon team members responding to queries at Verona Sands beach. Picture: Huon

A Tasmanian beachside community is extremely upset about “foul smelling chunks” of waste washing up on their “much-loved beach”.

Jess Coughlan from Neighbours of Fish Farming said walking on Verona Sands Beach on Sunday every step she would find three or four large chunks of a foul smelling, oily, thick substance.

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

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

She believed the substance was salmon fat mixed with flesh from a nearby industrial salmon farm, which is visible from the beach.

“Imagine a full tide line of styrofoam, except that’s not what it is, this was a very oily thick substance,” Ms Coughlan said.

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

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

Community members at the beach were complaining of the strong smell and worried about the impact to pets and humans from the pollution.

“They wanted to know what it was, they were upset that it was getting on their feet, they were upset that their dogs were eating it,”

NOFF Campaigner Jess Coughlan speaks to protesters outside Seafood Directions in Hobart. Picture: Elise Kaine

The substance was also found in the Nine Pines Marine Reserve which is at the end of Verona Sands Beach.

Ms Coughlan said although they were not sure which salmon farming company was responsible for the waste, Huon Aquaculture was on the beach.

A Huon Aquaculture spokeswoman said a crew immediately responded to concerns fish feed had washed ashore at Verona Sands on Sunday.

“We were able to immediately rule out fish feed being the cause and took samples that have been sent for further testing.,” she said.

She said although they don’t have the test results and “can’t specifically pinpoint the source it appears to be fish oil”.

“Fish oil is not harmful to people or pets, and we’ve been engaging with the EPA throughout this.

“Our crew meticulously combed the sand at Verona Sands to remove the material on Sunday and we are continuing to scour the sand daily,” the spokeswoman said

Huon team members responding to queries at Verona Sands beach. Picture: Huon

He said samples had been sent for testing and the team had been regularly communicating with the Environment Protection Authority.

“We will continue to monitor the beach daily for the remainder of the week, as well as other nearby beaches,” the post read.

An EPA spokeswoman said they were aware that a quantity of unknown biological material washed up on a Verona Sands beach on Sunday 16 February 2025.

She said Huon Aquaculture was in the process of removing the material to be disposed of at an EPA facility.

Analysis of the samples was ongoing, and the identity and source was not yet known.

Greens Senator Nick McKim said the “gross” and “disgusting” event was the result of an industry that believes it is “above the law”.

He said the major parties were in “lock-step” subsidising the industry and “refusing to enforce environmental regulations”.

“This pollution, and that’s what it is, is gross and disgusting, and the industry needs to be held to account,” he said.

Originally published as Huon Aquaculture cleaning beach while source of “smelly, oily” pollution remains unknown