Salmon farming companies have caused rank pollution of Tasmania’s waterways for weeks, but Premier Rockliff’s response to Greens’ questions in Parliament about reining in these giant corporates was extremely disappointing. The Premier is, yet again, letting them get away scot-free.
Diseased fish have been dying in their hundreds of thousands, with their putrid remains washing up on beautiful southern Tasmanian beaches. Bruny Island, the Tasman Peninsula and Verona Sands – these are extremely popular summer spots.
Salmon pollution has effectively closed these beaches during the peak of summer. Tasmanians who do brave the water have emerges stinking of salmon, and they can’t wash the smell off.
For weeks the EPA has played down the health impacts of rotting corpses and gross chunks of salmon washing up beaches. Disgracefully, they even compared it to fish oil supplements, which can be purchased from pharmacies as a health additive. That’s an irresponsible and potentially dangerous statement.
The EPA won’t even tell the public how many fish have died, or what from. Either they haven’t been told this from salmon companies, or they’re refusing to share it. Either way that’s an outrage.
It’s little wonder the EPA, meant to be Tasmania’s environmental watchdog, has no real teeth. The Rockliff Government have deliberately kept it weak to suit the interests of their mates in the aquaculture industry.
Now public health officials are warning locals not to touch the salmon remains. Tasmanians aren’t stupid – they’ve been raising their concerns of the health implications of this rank pollution for weeks now, and avoiding their favourite beaches.
It’s past time the Rockliff Government reins in salmon companies against the gross harm they’re causing our marine waters. They have to be fully transparent with Tasmanians about everything that’s happened.
The Premier should undertake a proper investigation into these mass fish deaths and the implications for Tasmania’s people and environment.
