00:00In the waters off Bruny Island, farmed salmon are being poured into crates, some still alive
00:08when they're sealed in.
00:10This vision has been captured by environmental activists, monitoring a Huon aquaculture lease
00:16in the Dondracasto Channel.
00:18Images of rotting dead salmon, images of live fish being thrown carelessly into bins and
00:24suffocating to death is not what they market to the public.
00:28Huon and other operators in Storm Bay have been battling a disease outbreak of rickettsia-like
00:33organisms at the lease site.
00:35For weeks, chunks of fish and or fish oil have been washing up on south-eastern Tasmanian
00:41beaches.
00:42In Parliament this morning, the Premier repeated a warning to the industry.
00:46I said the salmon companies are on notice and they are.
00:51And I also, in saying that, expect a high degree, highest possible degree of accountability
00:59and transparency.
01:00But some don't have faith the government or its environmental watchdog will hold the industry
01:06accountable.
01:08They're not telling Tasmanians how many fish have been killed.
01:11They're not saying where they're being disposed of.
01:14They're not clear in their information about whether that is a new virus in Tasmania.
01:20This afternoon, the EPA revealed it estimated there are about five and a half thousand tonnes
01:26of dead fish in the area.
01:28That's roughly six per cent of the industry's annual production.
01:32Our information indicates that we're not quite past the peak yet, so we expect that it'll
01:38be ongoing for a little while yet.
01:41Environmentalists say this should be a turning point.
01:44At Christmas time, I was sitting there quite despondent and I thought, what is it going
01:48to take to rein this industry in and get it managed properly?
01:51And I thought a natural disaster is the only thing that will rein this industry in.
01:56Huon Aquaculture's RSPCA certification could also be at risk.
02:01The animal welfare organisation released a statement saying the inhumane treatment of
02:06live, sick or injured fish was completely unacceptable.
02:10It said it would be seeking further information and considering what action is required.
02:15The ABC asked Salmon Tasmania and Huon Aquaculture for interviews.
02:20Both declined.
02:22Huon Aquaculture provided a video statement, saying it was disappointed and has launched
02:28a full investigation.
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