Pollution
Each year farmed salmon companies allow thousands of tonnes of faecal nitrogen, tonnes of antibiotics, plastics, broken infrastructure and chemicals to contaminate waterways. The sewage outflow from farmed salmon alone is like having a city the size of Brisbane dumping sewage directly into rivers, inlets and bays.
Expansion plans will see this pollution double!
- Algal blooms caused by high levels of nitrogen from fish faeces, and seabeds laid waste by faeces and excess feed that smothers life on the sea bottom.
Long Bay overflow
- Fish hatcheries where the river water is fouled by pollutants and algae. This is particularly important for Hobart and other sites, where domestic fresh water supplies are located downstream from hatcheries. Around half of Tasmania's hatcheries have yet to be replaced by fully self-contained RAS systems.
Downstream from Florentine hatchery
- Debris – including microplastics and larger marine debris– constantly found in waterways and on shorelines.
and Microplastics!
- 24/7 noise carrying long distances over water, and bright lights at night in rural coastal communities.
Wellboat Ronja Huon at night
- High fish pen densities means any diseases spread rapidly, and can transfer to wild populations.
Atlantic salmon are not native to our waters. 2-3% of fish regularly escape from pens, plus occasional major escapes. Much more research is needed on the impact of escapes on wild fish.
Fish pens in shallow waters
