Salmon fat and whole fish carcasses have washed ashore on Bruny Island beaches, less than a week after similar incidents involving ‘chunks’ of congealed fish oil at Verona Sands.
The Bob Brown Foundation has blasted the situation, with campaigner Alistair Allan saying “the entire length of a pristine beach on Bruny Island” is now coated in salmon fat.
Describing the latest development as a “disgusting repeat” of last weekend’s incident, Allan called it “solid proof” that the industry has lost control of the outbreak.
The organisation has also released drone images showing large quantities of dead salmon dumped in rubbish skips.
“These are animals that have been killed by bacteria. This is a huge biosecurity breach and disaster,” Allan said.
“The EPA must act. They can no longer tell the public that they are looking into it. Action is urgently required. The EPA should shut down all these farms and investigate immediately.”
In a statement on Friday afternoon, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) confirmed it is investigating how congealed fish oil washed up on Verona Sands beach.
“Salmon companies will be visiting beaches around the southern channel area this weekend and collecting material that they find,” a spokesperson said.
“Samples collected by the EPA have been analysed and interim laboratory results indicate the material to be fish oil, likely derived from the elevated fish mortalities that have been affecting multiple pens at Tasmanian fish farms over recent weeks.”
The disposal of dead fish is being strictly controlled, with facilities requiring pre-approval from either the EPA or local council to accept the waste.
One photo circulating on social media shows large numbers of dead salmon being dumped at the Copping Waste Precinct landfill.
The EPA said it is actively monitoring waste management facilities that it regulates.
