150,000 blasts, 48 dead seals: the cost of Tasmanian salmon farming
Tasmanian salmon companies have used 150,488 underwater explosives since 2016 to scare seals away from fish cages.
Government data released last week shows salmon farms in Tasmania's marine areas deployed almost 1,800 underwater explosives in the first half of 2026 alone. The three companies operating there, Huon Aquaculture, Tassal and Petuna, have ramped up the practice over a decade.
Huon, owned by Brazilian meat company JBS, accounted for almost two-thirds of explosives used in H1 2026. Four fur seals died in that period: two entangled in salmon cages, one from a boat strike and one during a sedation attempt.
Since 2021, at least 48 seals have died at Tasmanian salmon farms. The explosive use has declined sharply since April 2021, possibly linked to Richard Flanagan's book Toxic raising public attention.
Tassal says it aims to phase out the practice but has not set a deadline.
- 150,488 deployed since 2016
- Total explosives
- 48 deaths since start of 2021
- Seal deaths
Why it mattersThe scale of seal deaths and explosive use raises questions about whether salmon farming as currently practised is sustainable and acceptable to the public.
AustraliaTasmanian salmon farming is a major export industry, but growing pressure on seal welfare and farm management practices could lead to tighter regulations or public backlash.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 d ago
