Huon Aquaculture has condemned two protesters who scaled the side of its 116-metre wellboat, Ronja Storm, describing the action as a dangerous stunt that put staff at risk.
The vessel – billed as the world’s largest fish-farming wellboat – was boarded by Bob Brown Foundation activists, who unfurled a yellow banner reading “Fish Farms Out Now”.
Huon said the incident had been reported to Tasmania Police. Pulse understands the two activists have been arrested.
“Seriously, this type of illegal, performative protest stunt puts our hard-working staff and operational safety at risk,” the company said on social media.
It also shared a doctored image of the banner altered to read “We love Huon salmon”, adding: “PS: We fixed the banner for them.”
The Bob Brown Foundation said the protest followed a CSIRO study indicating public support for factory fish farming in Tasmania had largely collapsed.
Foundation marine campaigner Alistair Allan described the vessel as a symbol of “marine destruction”.
“These polluting fish farms have driven species to the edge of extinction, they have killed dolphins and seals, and they have smothered the sea floor and ecosystems with algal blooms,” he said.
“It’s time to get fish farms out of Tasmania’s waters for good.”
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said her party supports the “brave people from the Bob Brown Foundation”.
“Get fish farms out of our sensitive inshore waterways now,” she wrote online.
Tasmanian government minister Eric Abetz backed Huon, saying workers should “never be subjected to workplace invasions”.
“It is unsafe. Breaches all manner of laws. In the face of this provocation the Huon Team have responded superbly,” he wrote.
“Stay strong Huon workers. Tasmanians support you and appreciate your efforts.”
Tasmania’s salmon farming industry has faced increasing public scrutiny in recent months over environmental concerns, including mass fish deaths, water quality and antibiotic use.
