Latest news with #Piscirickettsiasalmonis
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Salmon on the menu for 11th-hour minority negotiations
Crossbenchers who will determine Tasmania's government have ramped up their fight for greater salmon farming regulation amid claims of a fresh disease spike in pens. More than 6300 tonnes of farmed salmon died during an outbreak of Piscirickettsia salmonis in the state's south over summer. Independent MP Peter George claims Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff briefed him about a current "outbreak" of the same disease at a pen in the south. The industry, however, denies a mass mortality event is occurring, while Minister for Primary Industries Gavin Pearce says the disease has "persisted" in salmon in the south over winter. Mr George, fellow independents Craig Garland and Kristie Johnston, and Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff have called on both major parties to increase aquaculture oversight. Tasmania's ongoing government is expected to be decided when parliament resumes on Tuesday, following a July 19 election that delivered another hung parliament. Both the Liberals (14 seats) and Labor (10) finished short of the 18 seats required for majority. Mr Rockliff has been recommissioned as premier but will face a no-confidence motion that could turf his government and install Labor leader Dean Winter as premier. Both major parties have in recent weeks attempted to woo the cross bench, who are yet to decide which premiership option to back. Labor's bid has in recent days hit a hurdle, with the party refusing to make policy concessions to the Greens. Dr Woodruff said she planned to meet further with Mr Winter and had told Mr Rockliff environment laws need to be changed to ensure greater industry transparency. "Now there is a strong progressive cross bench … we are confident we will get some changes in this area," she said on Friday. Mr George and Mr Garland, who both campaigned heavily on an anti-salmon platform, were awaiting further correspondence from Mr Rockliff. "As a fisherman, I am sick to death of my ocean being used as a dumping ground for effluent, sewerage and antibiotics," Mr Garland said. "All we're asking is for proper regulation and oversight. Anyone who is going to put their hand up to form government, a marine plan is absolutely essential." Mr Pearce said a range of options were being considered by industry to deal with Piscirickettsia salmonis, including vaccine development and adjusting production strategies. Industry had advised it wishes to use an alternative antibiotic, Florfenicol, which hasn't been used in large quantities in Australia, he said. "Our independent environmental protection authority and chief veterinary officer will play an important role in providing advice to government and to industry on its use," Mr Pearce said. Industry body Salmon Tasmania said aquaculture companies had "stepped up" their response to the disease following the summer deaths. Florfenicol requires lower doses than existing antibiotics, is absorbed more quickly and breaks down more quickly in the environment, it said.
News24
29-04-2025
- General
- News24
Dead salmon create election stink on Australian island
A mass die-off of salmon in farming pens in Tasmania has resulted in stinky remains washing ashore at Verona Sands. Tasmania's environmental regulator described the die-off in salmon pens in the area as an "unprecedented salmon mortality event". The Tasmanian fish farming industry produces 75 000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon a year - 90% of Australia's total output. On a tree-lined beach in Australia's rugged island state of Tasmania, locals discovered popcorn-sized bits of dead salmon washed up along the sand. When the stinky remains landed in Verona Sands, population 131, they stirred up a festering environment-versus-industry row shortly before Saturday's general elections. The fish remnants found in February were traced to a mass die-off from vast, circular salmon farming pens set up in the waters of the surrounding Tasman Sea estuary. The Tasmanian fish farming industry produces 75 000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon a year - 90% of Australia's total output. But in the warm, summer temperatures, a bacterium had taken hold in some of the salmon pens. "What I saw was little chunks, the size of small plums, and they were scattered the entire length of the beach," said Jess Coughlin, a campaigner with community group Neighbours of Fish Farming. When she sought advice to identify the mystery morsels, a diver who had worked in fish farms told her the industry referred to them as popcorn. "It's a common occurrence when the fish are left dead in the pens for a number of days and they start to rot and break down," Coughlin told AFP. Rotting salmon At first, the dead salmon sink. "The flesh and fat pull away from the body and, because of the pressure of the water and the wave action, as it makes its way up to the surface it clumps into these balls." Dead salmon falling apart within pens where fish are still being grown for human consumption is "incredibly disturbing", she said. Tasmania's environmental regulator described the die-off in salmon pens in the area - the D'Entrecasteaux Channel - as an "unprecedented salmon mortality event". The state's chief veterinary officer, Kevin de Witte, reported that in the warm, summer waters, the fish had been infected with an endemic bacterium, Piscirickettsia salmonis. "P. salmonis fish bacterium does not grow in humans and do not present a human or animal health, or food safety risk," he assured people. Industry body Salmon Tasmania said the microbe had devastated some farms in the area, and operators worked around the clock to clean up the mess and keep fish healthy. READ | Morocco volunteers on Sahara clean-up mission 'Catastrophe' "While industry always does its utmost to raise healthy fish, just like all animals and primary producers, salmon and our farms are not immune to the vagaries of our natural environment," it said. Some estimates put the number of dead salmon in the millions, said the Bob Brown Foundation, named after its co-founder, an environmentalist and former lawmaker. "This catastrophe is not just a 'natural vagary'," the foundation said. "This is the direct result of excessive nitrogen pollution, overstocking of pens, corrupt governance and a consequent failure to regulate, all directly attributable to the foreign-owned salmon corporations' endless greed." The salmon industry is notably blamed for threatening the existence of the endangered Maugean skate, a species of ray that grows to about the length of an adult person's arm. An estimated 4 100 Maugean skates remain in the world, and fewer than 120 of them are old enough to reproduce, according to the Australian Marine Conservation Society. They are found only in western Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour, which is also home to about 10% of the state's salmon industry. Official advice to the federal government in November 2023 said it may have to reconsider the industry's legality - and eventually even suspend its operations - due to scientific findings of an "increased extinction risk" to the skates. 'Anger and distress' Less than six weeks before the elections, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government intervened to block that possibility, saying it had to protect jobs. Parliament adopted a law curbing the environment minister's power to review years-old rulings - effectively shielding the Macquarie Bay salmon farmers. But the bay only represents 10% of Tasmania's salmon industry and it is a gateway to rural tourism, the environmentalist Bob Brown told AFP in the weeks leading up to the election. "There's a mood of anger and distress that I haven't seen for decades and it's getting stronger and there's a lot of young people involved and it's very heartening," Brown said. Some candidates in Tasmania are campaigning to bring a halt to salmon farming operations based in the open sea. "I think there will be a bigger vote away from the big parties," Brown predicted. "I think the vote against them will be a record."
NZ Herald
29-04-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
Dead salmon create general election stink in Tasmania, Australia
But in the warm, summer temperatures, a bacterium had taken hold in some of the salmon pens. 'What I saw was little chunks, the size of small plums, and they were scattered the entire length of the beach,' said Jess Coughlin, a campaigner with community group Neighbours of Fish Farming. When she sought advice to identify the mystery morsels, a diver who had worked in fish farms told her the industry referred to them as popcorn. 'It's a common occurrence when the fish are left dead in the pens for a number of days and they start to rot and break down,' Coughlin told AFP. Rotting fish At first, the dead salmon sink. 'The flesh and fat pull away from the body and, because of the pressure of the water and the wave action, as it makes its way up to the surface it clumps into these balls.' Dead salmon falling apart within pens where fish are still being grown for human consumption is 'incredibly disturbing', she said. Tasmania's environmental regulator described the die-off in salmon pens in the area – the D'Entrecasteaux Channel – as an 'unprecedented salmon mortality event'. The state's chief veterinary officer Kevin de Witte reported that in the warm, summer waters, the fish had been infected with an endemic bacterium, Piscirickettsia salmonis. ' P. salmonis fish bacterium does not grow in humans and do not present a human or animal health, or food safety risk,' he said. Industry body Salmon Tasmania said the microbe had devastated some farms in the area, and operators worked around the clock to clean up the mess and keep fish healthy. 'Catastrophe' 'While industry always does its utmost to raise healthy fish, just like all animals and primary producers, salmon and our farms are not immune to the vagaries of our natural environment,' it said. Some estimates put the number of dead salmon in the millions, said the Bob Brown Foundation, named after its co-founder, an environmentalist and former lawmaker. 'This catastrophe is not just a 'natural vagary',' the foundation said. 'This is the direct result of excessive nitrogen pollution, overstocking of pens, corrupt governance and a consequent failure to regulate, all directly attributable to the foreign-owned salmon corporations' endless greed.' The salmon industry is notably blamed for threatening the existence of the endangered Maugean skate, a species of ray that grows to about the length of an adult person's arm. An estimated 4100 Maugean skates remain in the world, and fewer than 120 of them are old enough to reproduce, according to the Australian Marine Conservation Society. They are found only in western Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour, which is also home to about 10% of the state's salmon industry. Official advice to the Federal Government in November 2023 said it may have to reconsider the industry's legality – and eventually even suspend its operations – because of scientific findings of an 'increased extinction risk' to the skates. 'Anger and distress' Less than six weeks before the elections, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Government intervened to block that possibility, saying it had to protect jobs. Parliament adopted a law curbing the Environment Minister's power to review years-old rulings – effectively shielding the Macquarie Bay salmon farmers. But the bay only represents 10% of Tasmania's salmon industry and it is a gateway to rural tourism, the environmentalist Bob Brown told AFP in the weeks leading up to the election. 'There's a mood of anger and distress that I haven't seen for decades and it's getting stronger and there's a lot of young people involved and it's very heartening,' Brown said. Some candidates in Tasmania are campaigning to bring a halt to salmon farming operations based in the open sea. 'I think there will be a bigger vote away from the big parties,' Brown said. 'I think the vote against them will be a record.'
Straits Times
29-04-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Dead salmon create election stink on Australian island
In the warm, summer temperatures, a bacterium had taken hold in some of the salmon pens in Tasmania, Australia. PHOTO: AFP HOBART - On a tree-lined beach in Australia's rugged island state of Tasmania, locals discovered popcorn-sized bits of dead salmon washed up along the sand. When the stinky remains landed in Verona Sands, population 131, they stirred up a festering environment-versus-industry row shortly before the general elections on May 3 . The fish remnants found in February were traced to a mass die-off from vast, circular salmon farming pens set up in the waters of the surrounding Tasman Sea estuary. The Tasmanian fish farming industry produces 75,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon a year – 90 per cent of Australia's total output. But in the warm, summer temperatures, a bacterium had taken hold in some of the salmon pens. 'What I saw was little chunks, the size of small plums, and they were scattered the entire length of the beach,' said Ms Jess Coughlin, a campaigner with community group Neighbours of Fish Farming. When she sought advice to identify the mystery morsels, a diver who had worked in fish farms told her the industry referred to them as popcorn. 'It's a common occurrence when the fish are left dead in the pens for a number of days and they start to rot and break down,' Ms Coughlin told AFP. Rotting salmon At first, the dead salmon sink. 'The flesh and fat pull away from the body and, because of the pressure of the water and the wave action, as it makes its way up to the surface it clumps into these balls.' Dead salmon falling apart within pens where fish are still being grown for human consumption is 'incredibly disturbing', she said. Tasmania's environmental regulator described the die-off in salmon pens in the area – the D'Entrecasteaux Channel – as an 'unprecedented salmon mortality event'. The state's chief veterinary officer Kevin de Witte reported that in the warm, summer waters, the fish had been infected with an endemic bacterium, Piscirickettsia salmonis. 'P. salmonis fish bacterium does not grow in humans and do not present a human or animal health, or food safety risk,' he assured people. Industry body Salmon Tasmania said the microbe had devastated some farms in the area, and operators worked around the clock to clean up the mess and keep fish healthy. Catastrophe 'While industry always does its utmost to raise healthy fish, just like all animals and primary producers, salmon and our farms are not immune to the vagaries of our natural environment,' it said. Some estimates put the number of dead salmon in the millions, said the Bob Brown Foundation, named after its co-founder, an environmentalist and former lawmaker. 'This catastrophe is not just a 'natural vagary',' the foundation said. 'This is the direct result of excessive nitrogen pollution, overstocking of pens, corrupt governance and a consequent failure to regulate, all directly attributable to the foreign-owned salmon corporations' endless greed.' The salmon industry is notably blamed for threatening the existence of the endangered Maugean skate, a species of ray that grows to about the length of an adult person's arm. An estimated 4,100 Maugean skates remain in the world, and fewer than 120 of them are old enough to reproduce, according to the Australian Marine Conservation Society. They are found only in western Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour, which is also home to about 10 per cent of the state's salmon industry. Official advice to the federal government in November 2023 said it may have to reconsider the industry's legality – and eventually even suspend its operations – due to scientific findings of an 'increased extinction risk' to the skates. Anger and distress Less than six weeks before the elections, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government intervened to block that possibility, saying it had to protect jobs. Parliament adopted a law curbing the environment minister's power to review years-old rulings – effectively shielding the Macquarie Bay salmon farmers. But the bay only represents 10 per cent of Tasmania's salmon industry and it is a gateway to rural tourism, the environmentalist Bob Brown told AFP in the weeks leading up to the election. 'There's a mood of anger and distress that I haven't seen for decades and it's getting stronger and there's a lot of young people involved and it's very heartening,' Dr Brown said. Some candidates in Tasmania are campaigning to bring a halt to salmon farming operations based in the open sea. 'I think there will be a bigger vote away from the big parties,' Dr Brown predicted. 'I think the vote against them will be a record.' AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
France 24
29-04-2025
- General
- France 24
Dead salmon create election stink on Australian island
When the stinky remains landed in Verona Sands, population 131, they stirred up a festering environment-versus-industry row shortly before Saturday's general elections. The fish remnants found in February were traced to a mass die-off from vast, circular salmon farming pens set up in the waters of the surrounding Tasman Sea estuary. The Tasmanian fish farming industry produces 75,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon a year -- 90 percent of Australia's total output. But in the warm, summer temperatures, a bacterium had taken hold in some of the salmon pens. "What I saw was little chunks, the size of small plums, and they were scattered the entire length of the beach," said Jess Coughlin, a campaigner with community group Neighbours of Fish Farming. When she sought advice to identify the mystery morsels, a diver who had worked in fish farms told her the industry referred to them as popcorn. "It's a common occurrence when the fish are left dead in the pens for a number of days and they start to rot and break down," Coughlin told AFP. Rotting salmon At first, the dead salmon sink. "The flesh and fat pull away from the body and, because of the pressure of the water and the wave action, as it makes its way up to the surface it clumps into these balls." Dead salmon falling apart within pens where fish are still being grown for human consumption is "incredibly disturbing", she said. Tasmania's environmental regulator described the die-off in salmon pens in the area -- the D'Entrecasteaux Channel -- as an "unprecedented salmon mortality event". The state's chief veterinary officer, Kevin de Witte, reported that in the warm, summer waters, the fish had been infected with an endemic bacterium, Piscirickettsia salmonis. "P. salmonis fish bacterium does not grow in humans and do not present a human or animal health, or food safety risk," he assured people. Industry body Salmon Tasmania said the microbe had devastated some farms in the area, and operators worked around the clock to clean up the mess and keep fish healthy. 'Catastrophe' "While industry always does its utmost to raise healthy fish, just like all animals and primary producers, salmon and our farms are not immune to the vagaries of our natural environment," it said. Some estimates put the number of dead salmon in the millions, said the Bob Brown Foundation, named after its co-founder, an environmentalist and former lawmaker. "This catastrophe is not just a 'natural vagary'," the foundation said. "This is the direct result of excessive nitrogen pollution, overstocking of pens, corrupt governance and a consequent failure to regulate, all directly attributable to the foreign-owned salmon corporations' endless greed." The salmon industry is notably blamed for threatening the existence of the endangered Maugean skate, a species of ray that grows to about the length of an adult person's arm. An estimated 4,100 Maugean skates remain in the world, and fewer than 120 of them are old enough to reproduce, according to the Australian Marine Conservation Society. They are found only in western Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour, which is also home to about 10 percent of the state's salmon industry. Official advice to the federal government in November 2023 said it may have to reconsider the industry's legality -- and eventually even suspend its operations -- due to scientific findings of an "increased extinction risk" to the skates. 'Anger and distress' Less than six weeks before the elections, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government intervened to block that possibility, saying it had to protect jobs. Parliament adopted a law curbing the environment minister's power to review years-old rulings -- effectively shielding the Macquarie Bay salmon farmers. But the bay only represents 10 percent of Tasmania's salmon industry and it is a gateway to rural tourism, the environmentalist Bob Brown told AFP in the weeks leading up to the election. "There's a mood of anger and distress that I haven't seen for decades and it's getting stronger and there's a lot of young people involved and it's very heartening," Brown said. Some candidates in Tasmania are campaigning to bring a halt to salmon farming operations based in the open sea. "I think there will be a bigger vote away from the big parties," Brown predicted. "I think the vote against them will be a record." © 2025 AFP
