Mass Salmon Deaths in Tasmania Spark Animal Welfare Concerns
Newly released government data has exposed a devastating crisis in Tasmania's salmon farming industry, with over 4 million fish dying prematurely during 2025. The figures, published by the state's Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), indicate a sharp escalation in mortality rates linked directly to warming ocean temperatures.
Alarming Mortality Statistics Revealed
According to the EPA's report, more than 2,500 tonnes of salmon perished in the final three months of 2025 alone. This brought the total annual loss to a staggering 20,133 tonnes of salmon that never reached processing facilities for public consumption. The data reveals particularly concerning patterns in December, when daily mortality rates soared to over 40 tonnes per day – nearly triple the average monthly rate recorded between July and October.
The crisis intensified during the austral spring and summer months, with approximately 500,000 salmon deaths occurring in November and December as ocean temperatures climbed. Scientific research consistently demonstrates that Atlantic salmon experience significant stress when water temperatures approach 18°C. At these elevated temperatures, fish encounter reduced oxygen levels in the water, suffer liver and kidney damage, experience diminished appetite, and become increasingly vulnerable to disease outbreaks.
Expert Warns of Systemic Failure
Stewart Frusher, a retired professor from the University of Tasmania's Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, described the December mortality spike as "an ominous sign for the months ahead." He offered a stark assessment of the situation: "We are essentially at the stage where the waters in south-eastern Tasmania aren't fit for purpose for salmon."
Despite producing nearly 68,000 tonnes of gutted salmon for public consumption in the 2024-25 period, Tasmania's salmon industry now faces serious questions about its environmental sustainability and animal welfare practices. The state's Animal Welfare Act clearly states that animal owners "must not use a method of management of the animal or group which is reasonably likely to result in unreasonable and unjustifiable pain or suffering."
Calls for Regulatory Action Intensify
Frusher highlighted what he perceives as regulatory inconsistency, noting that while the RSPCA has established that salmon experience pain, no apparent action has been taken regarding the mass deaths. "There is currently a public debate interstate about possible penalties for leaving dogs in cars on hot days, and Premier Rockliff has committed to phasing out greyhound racing because of animal welfare concerns. But when it comes to mass salmon deaths, there's just silence," he observed.
International comparisons underscore the potential for stronger regulatory frameworks. In Norway, where aquaculture standards are rigorously enforced, mass fish deaths at salmon farms can result in substantial financial penalties. In November 2025 alone, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority fined the aquaculture company Salaks 1.86 million kroner (approximately A$286,000) for welfare standard breaches that caused about 106,000 salmon deaths. That same month, another company, Tombre, received fines for the deaths of 132,000 salmon.
Industry observers argue that the absence of similar penalties in Tasmania does little to incentivize salmon producers to prevent mass mortality events. "Penalties must apply, as they do in Norway, as a disincentive to allowing current mortality rates to become the new normal, and bring animal welfare back into focus for an industry that is clearly beyond control," commented one critic of the current regulatory approach.
Salmon Tasmania, the representative body for the state's three major marine salmon producers, was approached for comment regarding calls for companies to face substantial fines for mass fish deaths. The organization did not respond to requests for its perspective on the growing controversy.
