NOFF accuses RSPCA of not applying own standards

NOFF has written to the RSPCA accusing them of not following their Farming Standard and their Policy for Humane Killing. This follows massed salmon mortalities, and video evidence of Huon Aquaculture workers mishandling salmon.

NOFF's letter to RSPCA CEO Richard Mussell states:

As you are aware, footage of dead and live fish from one of the RSPCA-endorsed salmon farms has emerged (sourced by the Bob Brown Foundation). The footage was taken at the South of Zuidpool Rock Lease, publicly known to be infected with a lethal strain of Rickettsia-like organisms (RLO).

Clearly, the RSPCA-approved farming standard has been breached several times. Neighbours of Fish Farming demands the National Board revokes the RSPCA's endorsement of Farmed Atlantic Salmon from Tasmania.

The RSPCA farming standard requires that:

Dead and moribund fish must be removed:

b) at least every 3 days in the marine phase of production.

• This has not happened, as rotting fish and fat balls have been found on local beaches, brought in on the tides.

Dead fish must be disposed of in a safe and hygienic manner.

• This has not happened, as there is footage of workers dealing with the dead fish both on the farms and in the clean-up crews at the beach who are not wearing PPE.

Any major reportable event which impacts fish health and welfare adversely must be reported to RSPCA Australia.

• It appears the industry has not promptly informed the RSPCA of the mass deaths. On what date was the RSPCA informed of the mortalities unfolding in Huon Aquaculture's operations over the summer 2024-25?

A Veterinary Health Plan must be drawn up and complied with.

The Veterinary Health Plan must specify fish health management and monitoring procedures and, where relevant, management targets for freshwater and marine stages, including but not limited to:

a) biosecurity

b) routine health monitoring procedure

f) vaccination schedule and procedure, and vaccine-related abdominal adhesions

h) euthanasia (including emergency mass euthanasia)

i) physical injury and damage

j) disease (including amoebic gill disease scoring method and notifiable diseases)

k) parasites

l) mortalities and classification of cause of death

• Can you confirm that the Veterinary Health Plan was adhered to over the summer of 2024-25? And what steps has the RSPCA taken to ensure this? Self-reporting by this industry is clearly not working.

The approved euthanasia methods are:

a) an overdose of a suitable anaesthetic using immersion in a solution of the agent

b) a non-recoverable percussive blow to the head of sufficient force to render the fish immediately dead.

c) for fish <20g, severance of the spinal cord and cervical vertebrae by inserting a sharp instrument just behind the skull.

d)A manual percussive device must be available for all procedures where live fish are being handled.

e)Fish must be checked to ensure they are dead, evidenced by loss of movement, loss of reactivity to a stimulus, no rhythmic opercular movement and loss of eye roll.

• None of the practices appears to have been observed by Huon Aquaculture at the South of Zuidpool Rock lease. Surely, this must result in disendorsement.

The RSPCA farming standard finishes with:

Management or husbandry procedures that directly impact animal welfare and are not specified in these Standards must not be performed unless prior approval has been obtained from RSPCA Australia.

We can't imagine that permission was sought from the RSPCA to load live fish from a diseased farm into a box to suffocate and die among the carcasses of already-dead and diseased fish, and certainly that it would not be given.

Vendors and consumers look to the RSPCA-labelling to ensure that the animal protein they are consuming is in alignment with their personal values. Neighbours of Fish Farming and public opinion asserts that the operation of Huon Aquaculture can no longer be endorsed by the RSPCA after this blatant disregard for sentient creatures, and RSPCA standards.

Any company that treats animals this way as soon as they believe they are "enduring difficult circumstances" or "no one is watching them" should not carry the endorsement of the RSPCA. Huon Aquaculture's practices are completely out of alignment with the values that the RSPCA endorsement was created for.

Finally, we bring your attention to the policy for humane killing, as listed on your website:

• RSPCA Australia advocates for the humane treatment of all animals at every stage of their life, from birth through to death.
• RSPCA Australia defines humane killing as when an animal is either killed instantly or rendered insensible until death ensues, without pain, suffering or distress.
• RSPCA Australia defines humane killing as when an animal is either killed instantly or rendered insensible until death ensues, without pain, suffering or distress.
• RSPCA Australia defines humane killing as when an animal is either killed instantly or rendered insensible until death ensues, without pain, suffering or distress.

Neighbours of Fish Farming insists the board of the RSPCA immediately withdraws their endorsement of Huon Aquaculture.

Sincerely,

Jess Coughlan and Lisa Litjens

Campaigner and Acting President

Neighbours of Fish Farming