Dr WOODRUFF question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
In the last six months, a baby dolphin was found dead with its head trapped in a Huon salmon net. This is the harrowing reality of the salmon farming industry. Their nets entangle, maim and drown dolphins. Despite a maximum four-hour reporting period, Huon waited until the next day to report that baby dolphin, and they froze the dolphin so a necropsy couldn’t be done. Another dolphin died after being caught in a hole in one of Huon’s nets. Divers were not called to retrieve the body until the next day, by then it had washed away. Two more dolphins died on consecutive days, these dolphins were also frozen. Only one dolphin was able to undergo necropsy and it showed the cause of death as fractured teeth, erosion of the head and drowning from net tangling. If this is an industry, as you say, on notice, what will you do to stop further cruel dolphin deaths and to make sure salmon farming companies comply with requirements?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the honourable member for her question. I am advised that the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE) regulates wildlife interactions and the use of seal management options in the marine farming industry more broadly. The management of wildlife interactions with aquaculture activities, like land-based farming, is complex, as I am sure you appreciate, and it is an ongoing challenge for marine operators.
I am aware of the reports, as you have stated. Under the seal management framework, data is reported to the NRE Tasmanian Wildlife Health and Marine section monthly, and is collated, reviewed and published on the department’s website every six months. I am advised that aquaculture companies are encouraged to report wildlife deaths promptly to enable the department to collect suitable carcasses for post‑mortem investigations, which can help confirm the cause of death and monitor for disease. The example you raised is indeed distressing and regrettable. I want to reinforce that.
NRE Tas scientists are working with aquaculture companies to better understand circumstances around these most recent interactions to inform further continuous improvement, which is what I have been talking about for some time – the last decade, in fact – when it comes to the aquacultural industry, which this government values. We value the industry, we value the regional jobs creation it brings, and we will continue to support the industry, albeit learnings, such as the example you raised, need for continuous improvement. We do have a study into the industry which from which we will take more learnings about the industry and its need for sustainability.
I am aware that the past year, NRE Tas has received reports of dolphin mortalities associated with entanglement in fish‑farm netting on Huon Aquaculture leases. Aquaculture companies are required, as I say, to report wildlife deaths quickly to enable the department to collect suitable carcasses for post‑mortem investigations.
There is no suggestion, I am informed that the deaths that were related to any breach of requirements under the company’s lease and committing arrangements. Huon has informed NRE Tas of scheduled changes to infrastructure that may help to reduce the risk of dolphin entanglement, and NRE will follow the progress of these works and evaluate the effects of these changes.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Dr WOODRUFF – A supplementary question, Speaker?
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary question.
Dr WOODRUFF – The Premier mentioned a number of things that are being done, but none of them will change the situation. The reason that Huon Aquaculture and other companies keep illegally freezing animals and not reporting them as required is because they are not feeling the pain of penalties. Will you bring in serious penalties that cause them to feel the pain of the harm that they are causing marine wildlife?
The SPEAKER – Sorry, that was related to your answer. Premier, do have you anything further to add to your lines because –
Dr Woodruff – It was related to the question about the changes you’re making to stop it happening again.
Mr ROCKLIFF – There have been significant changes over the last decade with respect to wildlife management. I have been talking about dolphins and that’s regrettable, very regrettable, as I have already said; but the development of infrastructure to mitigate seal interactions has seen the number of seal interactions significantly has seen the number of seal interactions significantly decline, with reductions in seal attacks on workers, reductions in damage to nets, and resultant entanglement. Indeed, since 2020, I am advised there has been a 78 per cent decline in reported seal mortalities. That is an example of the continuous improvement that we need to ensure when it comes to other wildlife –
Dr Woodruff – Just increase the penalties.
The SPEAKER – Order, Dr Woodruff.
Mr ROCKLIFF – When it comes to other wildlife interactions, we need to see, again, some significant improvement.
