A risk assessment of fur seals interactions with aquaculture in Tasmania

Salmon aquaculture in Tasmania is a well established and growing part of the Statesprimary industry. Farming Atlantic salmon involves holding very large numbers of fish inlarge pens suspended in the sea, typically in groups of 10 or more pens known as a farm.The farms are all coastal and located aro...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hindell, M, Lea, MA, Auman, H
Format: Report
Language:English
Published: Tassal Group Pty Ltd 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:http://ecite.utas.edu.au/92936
Description
Summary:Salmon aquaculture in Tasmania is a well established and growing part of the Statesprimary industry. Farming Atlantic salmon involves holding very large numbers of fish inlarge pens suspended in the sea, typically in groups of 10 or more pens known as a farm.The farms are all coastal and located around Tasmania in areas that meet particularrequirements of coastal and bathymetric topography and current flow. This highconcentration of fish overlaps with the normal range of fur seals, and inevitably results inseals being attracted to pens in an attempt to access the fish. The first harvest of salmonfrom aquaculture in Tasmania occurred in 1987 (53 tonnes), so seals have been interactingwith fish farms for more than 25 years. As the industry has grown (now 40,000 tonnesannually, (TSGA 2013)), the number of interactions has also increased.