Dozens of protesters on paddleboards and boats have joined a Hobart rally against krill harvesting for salmon feed.
The ‘Fish Farms Out Now Flotilla’ event held alongside Princess Wharf 1 coincided with the return of the Allankay Sea Shepherd vessel from an Antarctic expedition.
Bob Brown Foundation campaigner Alistair Allan said the vessel had recently spent time in the Arctic documenting “supertrawlers ploughing through pods of whales, emptying the Southern Ocean of krill”.
He said the protest action was a ‘strong sign’ people want the next government to remove fish farms from the state’s waters.
“The Tasmanian public is sick of the billionaire-owned, massive companies destroying our public waterways. They pollute, create smothering algal blooms and have pushed rare and endemic animals like the Maugean Skate to the edge of extinction,” he said.
“They even rely on feeding their salmon a cornerstone of the Antarctic ecosystem. Everywhere they go, destruction follows.”
“This upcoming election is a chance to vote out those parties who will allow our incredible waterways and environment to be destroyed in the name of private profit. It’s time to get fish farms out of Tasmania’s waters.”
Salmon Tasmania have again defended the industry, calling the protest turnout small and stating they are focused on sustainable practices.
