Verona Sands pollution outrage

Local residents at Verona Sands, south east Tasmania, reported their beach and the nearby Ninepins marine reserve fouled by masses of stinking white lumps of fish-smelling pollution. NOFF has received many first hand accounts, and done our own investigations.

"I walked the Verona sands beach this afternoon and was horrified by the fatty fishy smelling substance that is littering the beach. More disturbing is that the substance is as far as the ninepin point marine reserve. There is so much of it that it extends the whole length of Verona beach all the way to ninepin point. The substance is so greasy that it will not wash off in the water."

"My wife and I were just down there and saw a large crowd of people cleaning up. We thought it was kindly neighbours, but it appears to be have been employees of the salmon farms doing the cleaning. I gathered samples of the stuff in a plastic bag—white like animal fat. The beach was covered with it, and I can only imagine it comes from the salmon pens."

"As we walked the beach last night, my partner was barefoot. Last night she got into bed and realised that her feet were stinking up the whole bed, so she changed the sheets. The sandals she wore later are also full of the smell, and she can't get rid of it. In other words, the simple activity of walking barefoot on the beach has been ruined".

"I was sailing on Sunday afternoon. One of our crew had been investigating the pollution at Verona on behalf of NOFF. He could not get the smell off his hands, even after extended scrubbing. He said it was a horrible experience to walk the beach."

NOFF has taken samples and forwarded them to the EPA and independent testers, and we will update this report as we find out more. At the moment (updated 17 February, 6pm) we know:

• Large amounts of an unidentified smelly, greasy white substance has washed up on Verona beach and the nearby Ninepins marine reserve.
• Unverified insider reports are that it is most likely the putrifying remains of dead salmon, caused by a mass mortality event. Huon Aquaculture have confirmed on Facebook that it is not fish feed.
• No-one has admitted responsibility, but  Huon Aquaculture have confirmed on Facebook that they have had crews cleaning up on Verona beach.

NOFF is organising a protest rally at Verona Sands on Sunday 16 March, starting at 11am. Be there!

And here is a short video (best not viewed after meals) - you may have to rotate your smartphone