Tasmanians are concerned about the marine environment and feel negatively about the salmon industry, according to a new CSIRO survey. It’s more evidence the Liberals need to withdraw their support for the industry.
CSIRO showed all the stakeholders surveyed, from recreational water users to commercial fishers, feel strongly negative about salmon companies. Marine scientists and government employees have shifted from strongly positive to strongly negative since 2021.
The survey shows general public sentiment is also negative towards the salmon industry. Almost 70% of people are worried about costal and marine health, and less than 10% believe things are getting better. Only salmon corporations themselves have a positive view of their industry.
The overwhelming lack of support among Tasmanians for the salmon industry is in direct contrast to the Liberal Government’s assurances that Tasmanians support them.
Is it any wonder Tasmanians feel negatively about an industry that has polluted public waterways and beaches with dead fish last summer? It’s an industry that shown it prioritises its profits and uses the environment as a sewer.
The Liberal Government should be preventing this from happening again by requiring that fish are removed from diseased pens, but instead they’re letting the industry get away with it, scot-free.
The Liberals need to stop siding with the salmon industry over Tasmanian stakeholders and public. The toxic salmon farming industry needs reining in.
