Shocking numbers have been released about seal bomb use by Tasmanian salmon farms and deaths of seals and dolphins due to entanglement.

This is undeniable evidence that Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) must drop their certification of all Tasmanian salmon after the certification body, which was co-founded by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), ruled last year that the Tasmanian salmon industry’s request to be exempt from the rules regarding seal crackers or bombs was denied.

“The ASC was very clear that seal crackers are not allowed to be used on ASC-certified farms, yet we now have evidence showing Huon Aquaculture used thousands of seal crackers, and Tassal used hundreds, in the first half of 2024. Both companies are ASC-certified but that is now outrageous. If the ASC continues to certify Tasmanian salmon, they will destroy any remaining credibility that their international standard holds,” said Alistair Allan, Antarctic and Marine Campaigner at Bob Brown Foundation.

“Consumers are being betrayed right now. As a consumer, it is impossible to know if the salmon you buy comes from a farm that shoots or bombs native wildlife such as seals. What makes it worse is that you are now completely misled as a consumer, because these products come with ASC certification which explicitly states that the use of seal crackers is prohibited.”

“Tasmanian salmon companies are completely negligent, and even belligerent, when it comes to protecting Tasmania’s environment and wildlife. In Macquarie Harbour, they are driving the Maugean Skate to extinction and now, in Storm Bay and elsewhere, they are killing seals and dolphins. The ones they don’t kill are maimed or injured by shooting anti-riot beanbags at them or throwing seal crackers on their heads.”

“Bob Brown Foundation demands that ASC and WWF drop certification of all Tasmanian salmon until consumers can be certain that the salmon they are buying doesn’t come from a farm that bombs native wildlife, as per their own standards. The shocking evidence of marine wildlife suffering due to the toxic salmon industry is further evidence why they need to be removed from our waters.”