Mixed messaging from government bodies on health impacts of southern salmon deaths

Government authorities are providing mixed messaging related to the mass deaths of salmon in southern Tasmania, weeks after salmon carcasses and fish oil washed up on some sandy shores.

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

Mixed messaging from governmental bodies remains weeks after a mass salmon mortality incident, which left fish carcasses and oil on southern Tasmanian beaches.

Biosecurity Tasmania confirmed on Tuesday that the bacteria responsible for the mass mortality of Tasmanian salmon in pens was not harmful to native marine life species.

Despite this, the Department of Health said their advice remained to not handle or swim where the mortality event is occurring.

The Tasmanian Environmental Protection Agency became aware of the mass salmon mortality event after chunks of fish oil and salmon flesh washed up on beaches in Verona Sands and Bruny Island a fortnight ago.

Images showing dead fish at Tasmanian aquaculture facilities supplied by the Bob Brown Foundation.

Staff from Huon Aquaculture were quick to clean up the fish oil and dead salmon from beaches, but many local residents and fish farming activists voiced their concerns over the smell, waste and environmental damage.

“ The advice remains to not handle or consume dead fish or parts thereof; to wash your hands if you do, and to avoid recreational activities that will bring you into contact with the dead fish,” a Department of Health spokesperson said.

“Members of the public are asked to leave such material alone.

“This eliminates risk.”

This information has not yet been made publicly available on the Department’s website and was instead brought to light through email correspondence.

Emails between fish farm campaigner Neighbours of Fish Farming and the Department of Health shared the same message, even though the strain of bacteria infecting the salmon was not yet known.

No beaches have been listed for closure due to the salmon mortalities.

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

A Biosecurity Tasmania spokesperson said diagnostic testing was “recently finalised”.

“Tasmania’s Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed bacterium is known as Piscirickettsia salmonis (P. salmonis) and until recently was called the Tasmanian Rickettsia-Like Organism, East Coast strain,” the spokesperson said.

“Biosecurity Tasmania understands the analysis of the material found on Verona Sands beach on February 16 was found to be consistent with fish oil, it represents very little animal health or biosecurity risk for the known pathogens.

“Tasmania does not have any native salmonids or known native species that might be susceptible to the likely endemic bacterium strain that has impacted salmonids.”

Independent Member for Braddon Craig Garland on Tuesday questioned the Premier on why information regarding the salmon mortality events had been so slow to become public.

“I acknowledge community concerns about this very concerning matter,” Mr Rockliff said.

“I also acknowledge the challenging situation salmon companies have been dealing with due to the reported high number of mortalities occurring within a very short period of time.

“We are concerned about our environment.

“We share community concerns and we are concerned also for the industry and wider impacts.

“We understand the minister is in close contact with the EPA, industry and relevant stakeholders on this matter.

“The issue is still unfolding and we are yet to understand the full impact of what has happened – there is a multi-factorial nature of its causes.”

Originally published as Mixed messaging from government bodies on health impacts of southern salmon deaths