Animals Australia alleges potential breaches of Tasmania’s Animal Welfare Act 1993 across the state’s salmon farming industry.
Release date: Tuesday 8 September 2026
PRESS RELEASE
The Tasmanian Alliance for Marine Protection (TAMP)
demands that it is
TIME TO BRING TO ACCOUNT ANIMAL CRUELTY
IN TASMANIA’S SALMON INDUSTRY
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MEDIA CALL :
1.15pm Tuesday 8 September, Parliament Lawns, Hobart
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TAMP and its affiliates share their outrage at the shocking allegations by Animals Australia of potential breaches of Tasmania’s Animal Welfare Act 1993 across the state’s salmon farming industry.
TAMP acknowledges and supports the initiative of Animals Australia in lodging 2 complaints with Biosecurity Tasmania to investigate and enforce breaches of the Tasmanian Animal Welfare Act.
A statewide body, TAMP represents affiliate groups and members who have borne witness to, and protested, salmon farming operations in Tasmania for many years.
TAMP has long held concerns for the cruel practices on the salmon, in addition to other native marine life such as seals, dolphins and seabirds. These concerns led to the formation of TAMP’s Animal Welfare Group, which has since worked closely with Animals Australia.
TAMP President Diana Shaw says:
“All 3 foreign-owned multinational companies operating salmon farms in Tasmanian waters (Tassal/Cooke, Huon/JBS, Petuna/Sealord) are subject to the breaches of the Animal Welfare act and must be properly investigated by Biosecurity Tasmania. Biosecurity Tasmania is simply being asked to perform its statutory duty.”
At the same time as our Premier was heralding the presence of ‘Neil’ the southern elephant seal and the public were signing petitions for Neil’s safety, Tassal were firing bean bag rounds containing heavy lead pellets at fur seals that came near to, or entered the salmon pens, inflicting severe injuries, trauma and blindness to seals.
As stated by Animals Australia:
“Departmental wildlife interaction records for 2025 identify the deaths of 51 birds, eight seals and five dolphins, as well as the deployment of 3,477 seal crackers and at least 81 bean bag rounds.”
Debbie Dunn, TAMP’s Animal Welfare spokesperson says
“seal crackers have been known to rupture ear drums, shatter bones, cause internal bleeding and soft tissue burns to seals. This is a horrific act of animal cruelty, while the industry brushes it off as a simple ‘deterrent’.“
Tasmania markets its salmon as a premium, humanely raised product from a pristine natural paradise, yet the stark reality is a high-density industrial system, plagued by massive disease outbreak, chemicals reliance, and severe animal welfare failures that confirms yet again the industry has no Social Licence to operate.
Nothing short of a full, transparent and urgent investigation and prosecution should be accepted. The Tasmanian government cannot ignore this any longer.
“From hatchery to slaughter to plate, this industry must be held accountable” says Diana Shaw, TAMP President.
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MEDIA CONTACT, TAMP :
Debbie Dunn 0429 098853 debbiedunn54@gmail.com
MEDIA CALL :
1.15pm Tuesday 8t September, Parliament Lawns, Hobart