Two formal complaints have alleged salmon, dolphins, seals and seabirds are suffering and dying at Tasmania’s fish farms.
Animals Australia, a national animal protection group, has lodged the complaints with Biosecurity Tasmania, calling for an investigation into potential breaches of the Animal Welfare Act 1993.
The complaints target Huon Aquaculture, Tassal Group and Petuna Aquaculture.
They allege systemic mistreatment of farmed Atlantic salmon, as well as the deaths of seals, dolphins and seabirds caught in fish farm nets and other infrastructure.
Government data cited in the complaints shows at least four million salmon died prematurely in Tasmania during 2025.
Departmental wildlife records for the same year show 51 birds, eight seals and five dolphins also died.
The records also show 3,477 seal crackers and at least 81 beanbag rounds were fired at fish farms.
Animals Australia legal counsel Shatha Hamade said the deaths should not be dismissed as a byproduct of the industry.
“These are individual sentient beings that are dying in the millions from prolonged pain, injury, distress and just enormous egregious suffering,” she said.
Industry body Salmon Tasmania has rejected the allegations.
“These are nothing more than recycled and false allegations made by an organisation which has a stated goal of shutting down salmon farming, as well as regularly campaigning against almost every type of animal-based farming,” chief executive John Whittington said.
“Like any primary producer, Tasmanian salmon growers have a legal and ethical obligation to maximise the welfare of their animals.”
Speaking on Parliament Lawns today, Hamade said Biosecurity Tasmania had told Animals Australia it was still considering the complaints, but no further update had been provided.
“We are not asking them to create new laws,” she said.
“We are asking them to enforce the very law that exists to protect these animals.”
Greens MLC Cassy O’Connor, the party’s animal welfare spokesperson, said the regulator was failing to complete investigations in a timely manner.
She pointed to footage from March 2025 showing live salmon being placed in bins alongside dead fish at a Huon Aquaculture lease.
“18 months later, we’ve asked multiple questions in estimates and other places and it’s always, ‘oh, you know, things are happening’,” she said.
“Well, nothing appears to be happening and the message that that sends to the salmon industry is that this government is prepared to let you off the hook.”
In parliament this morning, Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff asked Primary Industries and Water Minister Gavin Pearce whether Biosecurity Tasmania would investigate the complaints.
Pearce said the matters were “under consideration” and it would not be appropriate to comment further.
He also took a separate question on notice about whether the investigation into the Huon footage had been completed. He could not say when an update would be provided.
Independent MP Peter George said the history of investigations and litigation involving fish farms was “pathetic”.
He will table a motion calling for a “full, transparent investigation and prosecution” of the salmon companies in parliament tomorrow.
“I fully expect support from Liberal and Labor if they believe Tasmania’s animal welfare laws apply to multinationals as they do to all Tasmanians,” he said.
