Under the practice, seals found in or around aquaculture fish pens are seized and relocated several hundred kilometres away, generally from Tasmania’s south to the north coast. Seals can be stressed and sometime die during relocation, while some swim directly back to the fish farm after release.
After a “three strikes” process regulated by government, individual repeat offenders, or excessively aggressive seals, can be euthanased.
The data shows the government approved 45 “strikes” against seals over the four-month period; four seals were killed.
Salmon farming is Australia’s highest value fishery, worth $720 million a year and employing more than 2000 people, while growing at $2m a week. |
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