Stinky Salmon Stir Up Election Controversy on Australian Island

Along a tree-shaded shoreline in Tasmania, an island state of Australia known for its wild terrain, residents found small pieces of deceased salmon, about the size of popcorn kernels, scattered across the beach.

When the foul remnants arrived in Verona Sands, with a populace of 131, they ignited an intense dispute between environmentalists and industry just prior to Saturday’s general election.

The remains of the fish discovered in February were linked back to a significant mortality event involving large, round salmon farm enclosures established within the Tasman Sea estuary’s waters.

The fish farming sector in Tasmania generates approximately 75,000 tons of Atlantic salmon annually, accounting for 90 percent of Australia’s overall production.

However, during the mild summer temperatures, a bacterium managed to establish itself in some of the salmon enclosures.

"I observed tiny pieces about the size of small plums, spread all along the shoreline," stated Jess Coughlin, a spokesperson for the local organization Neighbours of Fish Farming.

When seeking guidance to pinpoint the enigmatic tidbits, a diver with experience in fish farms informed her that the sector dubbed them "popcorn."

"When fish remain deceased in the enclosures for several days, decomposition sets in and they begin to disintegrate," Coughlin explained to AFP.

Rotting salmon

Initially, the deceased salmon sink.

The meat and fat separate from the body, and due to the water pressure and wave movement, they form into clusters as they rise to the surface.

She described the sight of decomposing salmon breaking down inside the pens, while live fish continue to be raised for human consumption, as "extremely troubling."

The environmental authority in Tasmania referred to the mass death of salmon within fish farms located in the D'Entrecastiaux Channel as an "unequaled event concerning salmon mortality."

The state’s top veterinarian, Kevin de Witte, stated that during the hot summer months, the fish were affected by an indigenous bacterium known as Piscirickettsia salmonis.

"The P. salmonis fish bacterium does not proliferate in humans and poses no risk to human or animal health, nor does it affect food safety," he reassured everyone.

The industry group Salmon Tasmania stated that the microorganism had severely impacted certain aquaculture facilities in the region, with operators working tirelessly around the clock to address the situation and maintain the well-being of the fish.

'Catastrophe'

"Although the industry consistently strives to cultivate healthy fish, similar to all creatures and agricultural producers, both salmon and our farming facilities remain susceptible to the unpredictabilities of nature," the statement read.

The Bob Brown Foundation, founded by an environmental activist and ex-lawmaker bearing its namesake, suggests some assessments indicate that millions of salmon may have perished.

"The disaster is more than merely a natural occurrence," according to the statement from the foundation.

This outcome is solely due to excess nitrogen contamination, overcrowding in holding areas, flawed leadership, and the subsequent lack of oversight—all attributed to the insatiable hunger for profit from foreign-controlled salmon companies.

The salmon farming sector is often criticized for jeopardizing the survival of the threatened Maugean skate, a type of ray that reaches approximately the size of an average human arm.

Approximately 4,100 Maugean skates are left globally, with less than 120 being mature enough to breed, as stated by the Australian Marine Conservation Society.

These species can be found exclusively in Western Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbor, which also houses approximately ten percent of the region’s salmon farming sector.

In November 2023, official guidance suggested that the federal government might need to reassess the legal status of the skate industry—and potentially halt its activities—because of scientific evidence indicating a heightened risk of extinction for skates.

'Anger and distress'

Just under six weeks prior to the elections, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's administration took action to prevent that option, stating their intention to safeguard employment.

The parliament passed a legislation limiting the environment minister's ability to revisit past decisions, which essentially protects the Macquarie Bay salmon farming operations.

However, the bay accounts for just 10 percent of Tasmania's salmon industry and serves as an entry point to rural tourism, according to environmentalist Bob Brown, who spoke with AFP shortly before the election.

"I've not witnessed such levels of rage and anguish in many years, and this sentiment seems to be intensifying. It’s particularly encouraging to see numerous youngsters taking part in it," Brown stated.

Several contenders in Tasmania are running campaigns aimed at stopping salmon farming activities conducted in offshore areas.

Brown forecasted that "there will likely be an increased preference for candidates outside of the major political parties."

I believe the rejection of their proposal will set a new record.