Salmon farm debris washed up Hobart beaches

Salmon farmers say they have passed the extreme weather event test, despite some unwanted beach debris.

HUON Aquaculture is working to remove several large pieces of salmon farming equipment washed up on Hobart beaches by wild seas.

A plastic bird-net frame landed on Hinsby Beach at Taroona, while two feeders were found on Kingston Beach after they were washed over the three-metre walls of company’s salmon pens.

“They look like big Daleks just appeared,” Huon executive director Frances Bender said.

“We would have preferred that they didn’t wash up but now the challenge is working with the council to get access to the beach to remove them.”

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The use of cranes was being investigated, if wind conditions allowed, with seas still too rough for boats to be used.

Huon Aquaculture's Salmon feeders washed ashore on Kingston Beach. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

Waves of more than 11 metres were measured in Storm Bay on Thursday night, causing the equipment to be washed clear of Huon’s pens.

Staff left the company’s lease on Thursday afternoon in preparation for the storm, with cameras used to monitor the farm.

“We don’t believe we’ve lost any fish,” Ms Bender said.

A salmon farm pen, washed up in Taroona during the flood. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

“The moorings are intact, the pens are intact, which is great news for us.

“They’ve stood up to the roughest weather ever.”

Minor damage was caused to pens in the lower Huon and Macquarie Harbour, while Huon’s onshore hatchery at Lonnavale was also cut off.

The conditions were the worst the three-year Storm Bay farm had experienced, but had been anticipated by modelling for offshore farms completed in Norway.

“It’s the highest level of modelling they’ve ever done for a salmon farm in the world and I’m very pleased that they did,” Ms Bender said.

“We knew that is was going to be bad out there.”

Fresh salmon made it across Bass Strait on Friday morning after truck crews cut trees from the Huon Highway.