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The Guardian
20-03-2025
- General
- The Guardian
RSCPA revokes Huon salmon's accreditation after video showing live fish being dumped in Tasmania
RSPCA Australia has revoked its accreditation of major Tasmanian salmon company Huon after the release of a video that it said showed the inhumane handling of live fish. The withdrawal follows an initial 14-day suspension after the Bob Brown Foundation published drone video that showed writhing live salmon being siphoned into a tub containing dead fish. The fish were killed by a major disease outbreak at south-eastern Tasmanian fish farms earlier this month. In the video, the tub was then sealed. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Huon Aquaculture said it was 'extremely disappointed' about the RSCPA decision after a 'single incident of non-compliance' during an 'unprecedented, challenging period'. The RSPCA's chief executive, Richard Mussell, said no Tasmanian salmon companies were certified as meeting the RSPCA-approved standard after the decision. 'While we acknowledge this was a single incident following many years of certification, the decision to withdraw a certification reflects how seriously we take incidents like this that compromise animal welfare,' he said. 'Fish, including those farmed for human consumption, are sentient beings and, like other animals, can experience pain and suffering. When they're farmed for food, the welfare of fish must be front of mind.' The announcement adds to the pressure on the state's salmon industry after a month in which more than 1 million salmon died during an outbreak of an endemic bacterium, Piscirickettsia salmonis. More than 5,500 tonnes of fish were dumped at landfill and rendering plants in February. Fatty chunks of fish have washed up on beaches in the Huon Valley and on Bruny Island in February and March, prompting public protests. The industry is also at the centre of a political storm over Anthony Albanese's plan to rush through legislation next week to protect salmon farming in Macquarie harbour, on the state's west coast, from a legal challenge over its impact on the Maugean skate, an endangered fish species. Mussell said salmon was one of the most intensively farmed animals and it was 'important that we can demonstrate the measures needed to ensure their welfare is considered'. Huon's general manager of stakeholder and government relations, Hannah Gray, said the company acknowledged the seriousness of the 'extremely distressing' incident and that it had put steps in place to ensure contractors upheld 'high animal welfare standards'. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion She said Huon had been farming 'to a standard of animal welfare that no other Australian salmon farming company has been able to achieve' for the past seven years. 'We will continue to farm to this standard,' she said. Bob Brown Foundation campaigner Alistair Allan said the RSPCA decision was 'the correct one' and that the drone video showed the 'grim reality of factory-farmed Tasmanian salmon'. Allan said the incident showed Albanese's support of salmon farming was 'out of touch'. 'He needs to walk back his support of the industry,' he said. The federal Coalition and the Australian Greens wrote to Albanese on Thursday asking to see the legislation to change national environmental law to protect the industry in Macquarie harbour that will go before parliament on Tuesday. Albanese said 'people will see the legislation next week'. 'We'll be introducing it and we expect it to be carried,' he said. It is expected the bill will be designed to abruptly end a long-running legal review by the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, into whether an expansion of the salmon industry in the harbour in 2012 was properly approved.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Major blow for popular Aussie food product after 'out of control' allegations
Tasmania's salmon farming industry has had a terrible four weeks. And today it got worse, with the RSPCA announcing it's permanently cutting ties with one of the country's biggest producers, Huon. After a bacterial outbreak killed over 1 million salmon across the state, workers for Huon, which is a subsidiary of Brazil's largest meat producer JBS, were caught on camera throwing writhing live and dead salmon into the same containers and sealing them shut. In response, the RSPCA initially suspended its accreditation for 14 days, citing concerns about the 'inhumane handling of live, sick or injured fish' which it said was 'unacceptable'. RSPCA Australia CEO Richard Mussell acknowledged its decision was made after a single incident, but he said certified producers need to meet standards 'that go well above the minimum legal requirements'. 'The decision to withdraw a certification reflects how seriously we take incidents like this that compromise animal welfare,' he said. 'Fish, including those farmed for human consumption, are sentient beings and, like other animals, can experience pain and suffering. When they're farmed for food, the welfare of fish must be front of mind.' Related: Brutal claim about one of the world's most popular meats in court challenge Local media reported Huon was "incredibly disappointed" by the decision and said the incident occurred during an "unprecedented, challenging period". Yahoo News has reached out to peak body Salmon Tasmania for comment. Conservation group Bob Brown Foundation accused the industry of being "completely out of control" and congratulated the RSPCA on its decision. "The RSPCA should have never taken money from these factory farms in the first place, which was a clear compromise of their standards. We thank the RSPCA for returning to upholding their values and morals in this instance," spokesperson Alistair Allan said. The salmon farming industry has faced growing pressure to reform its operations, which critics say is harming the 'clean, green' reputation of food produced on the island state. Beaches in Tasmania have been inundated with foul-smelling chunks of dead salmon that have died from disease, sparking large protests. And one major food delivery app, Box Divvy, has cut ties with the industry and switched to New Zealand produce. Despite the controversy, major political figures including the state's premier Jeremy Rockliff and federal opposition leader Peter Dutton have stuck by the international salmon farming multinationals that operate in Tasmania's waters. And Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has vowed his government will push through legislation guaranteeing the industry's future. 🐨 Koala wearing mysterious devices on busy road sparks concern 🌳 Hunters of Australia's rare 'giant trees' warn time running out to visit them 🦎 Hunt for rare dragon lizard not seen for 30 years His government's measure is designed to counter legal battles the industry faces over its impact on the Maugean skate, a native fish that's been pushed to near extinction due to poor water quality in its only habitat, Macquarie Harbour. While the RSPCA had previously accredited products farmed by Huon, it had refused to allow its label to be used on salmon farmed in Macquarie Harbour. Both Coles and Woolworths controversially sell salmon from the region as 'sustainable'. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
