Controversy has erupted after reports of salmon remains washing up on a popular Tasmanian beach on Christmas Day, with conflicting accounts from officials and a local independent MP.
Residents at Verona Sands in southeast Tasmania allegedly discovered rotting fish entrails and flesh on the beach during their Christmas celebrations, according to Franklin MP Peter George.
“Residents at Verona Sands woke up on Christmas Day to find rotting fish entrails and flesh on their famous beach – reportedly the remains of Atlantic salmon from nearby fish farms,” George said.
The independent MP has written to ministers responsible for health, environment and primary industries calling for an immediate and transparent investigation.
“I call on the government and the responsible ministers to ensure an immediate, full and transparent investigation with no cover-ups,” he said.
George claimed some residents had collected samples and taken photographs of the remains because “they do not believe the authorities will act promptly to do the job properly.”
However, the Environment Protection Authority Tasmania and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania have provided a starkly different assessment after inspecting the beach.
“EPA Tasmania and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania responded to the reports and inspected the entire beach on 25 and 26 December and found a single specimen of organic material of unknown origin,” the agencies stated in a joint response.
They said the specimen had been collected for analysis.
“No other organic material or waste were identified during both inspections and the beach is safe,” they told Pulse.
George alleges the incident mirrors a similar occurrence almost exactly one year ago when “rotting salmon from the fish farms washed up [on] SE Tasmanian foreshores, from Verona Sands to Bruny Island.”
He says residents are concerned that the remains could be from diseased salmon recently treated with the antibiotic florfenicol.
