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Plans by industrial salmon company, Tassal, to continue using thousands of underwater explosive seal deterrents in Tasmanian waters have been dealt a blow by a leading international certifier. The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has refused to issue Tassal with exemptions from its global ban on the devices.

Maugean skate numbers have been decreasing significantly in Macquarie Harbour — their only known home — coinciding with an increase in salmon farming. In an attempt to prevent their extinction, a captive breeding program was funded by the state and federal governments, but two out of four skates have already died. Scientists do not plan to capture...

Since 2014, several Tassal farms have maintained Aquaculture Stewardship Council certification despite the ASC standard requiring zero use of seal bombs, which Tassal continues to use. ASC auditors are now seeking permanent approval for Tassal to continue seal bomb use.

'Biological challenges' have hit Mowi production as campaigners speak out over proliferation of salmon farms in Scottish waters. Mowi, which operates in more than 50 locations around Scotland reported its harvests were down by 10 per cent and that Mowi Scotland made a 2022 operating profit of £27 million, down from £54 million in 2021.