Huon Aquaculture hits back at campaign against salmon industry

Huon Aquaculture has accused Environment Tasmania of spreading misinformation in a new campaign criticising the state’s major salmon companies.

ONE of Tasmania’s major aquaculture companies has hit back at a campaign criticising the state’s salmon farming enterprises, branding claims by an environmental group as false.

Huon Aquaculture accused Environment Tasmania of spreading misinformation in a campaign that raises concerns about aquaculture companies’ performance on environmental and animal welfare measures.

As part of the ET campaign, a traffic light rating of Tasmania’s major salmon companies Tassal, Huon and Petuna classified all three as red.

Huon Aquaculture salmon farming operations. Picture: SUPPLIED

ET said its research showed issues with measures like antibiotic use, waste management and the numbers of salmon dying before being harvested.

ET strategy director Laura Kelly said the campaign, backed by Tasmanian former Home and Awaystar Bonnie Sveen, had been in the works for more than a year.

“The overall rating for all companies is red,’’ Ms Kelly said.

“And all companies receive a red rating for crucial issues like their dumping of salmon poo in our oceans, use of genetically altered salmon, antibiotic use and the amount of salmon that die from malformations or disease prior to being harvested.”

But Huon accused ET of making claims that were not supported by factual evidence.

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Huon said it had made numerous invitations to the group to visit the company’s farm sites.

“ET have refused to come for a farm tour and learn how we are continuously working to be world-leading in terms of environmental management, fish-health practices and biosecurity,’’ the company said.

“ET has also actively refused to provide us with the criteria being used to measure the industry, which limits our ability to proactively respond or alter practices to achieve their ‘standard’.”

Huon Aquaculture co-founder and executive director Frances Bender at a salmon farming facility in Southern Tasmania. Picture: PETER MATHEW

Huon said it hosted The Project on a tour of its farm leases, after an approach by the program in response to ET’s concerns, and “without hesitation we openly accepted”.

The campaign will include the targeting of salmon buyers across Australia, and the distribution of handouts of ET’s ratings cards.

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Ms Kelly said the ratings of the companies were based on benchmarks established using independent scientific literature. Ms Kelly said Huon was sent data used for review.

The Tasmanian Salmonid Growers Association also took aim at ET’s campaign.

“ET’s current outburst is clearly designed to damage the brand reputation of one of Tasmania’s finest foods and one which is produced by an industry that is more closely controlled and regulated than any other form of primary production,’’ the association said.

Tassal and Petuna were contacted for comment but referred the Mercury to the TSGA.