First video evidence of sick salmon in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour. The Green Britain Foundation (GBF) has released the first video footage documenting sick and diseased factory farmed salmon in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour, raising urgent concerns about the survival of the critically endangered Maugean skate, which exists nowhere else on Earth.
The ground-breaking footage, captured during an extensive underwater investigation by the GBF research team, reveals concerning health conditions among factory farmed salmon populations that share waters with one of Australia’s most endangered marine species. The farm is owned by Tassal an Australian seafood company, its parent is Cooke a Canadian company which also owns Salmon farms in Scotland.
The Maugean skate is endangered primarily due to degraded water quality in Macquarie Harbour, its only known habitat, and the impacts of human activities on this habitat. Specifically, low dissolved oxygen levels, caused by salmon farming and hydroelectric damming, are the main threats.
Dale Vince, founder of the Green Britain Foundation says:
“These factory farmed salmon operations are run by multinational corporations with no genuine concern for local wildlife or ecosystems. Their only priority is profit, regardless of the environmental cost. The Maugean skate is found nowhere else on Earth, yet these companies continue business as usual while a species faces extinction in their wake. This is the same pattern we’ve seen globally—corporations exploiting local environments while claiming to be responsible stewards.”
Following numerous exposes on the factory farmed salmon industry in Scotland the Green Britain Foundation felt it critical that Australians were able to see for themselves the reality of salmon farming. The foundation presence in Australia reflects the organisation’s commitment to addressing environmental challenges regardless of geography. Salmon farming is a global industry operating in relatively few countries, with similar environmental impacts observed across regions.
“What we’re seeing in Tasmania isn’t unique,” said Vince. “These multinational salmon farming companies use the same playbook everywhere they operate—they enter pristine environments, extract maximum profit, and leave devastation in their wake. They’ve perfected the art of greenwashing while their practices tell a completely different story. The Green Britain Foundation is committed to exposing this reality, whether it’s in our home waters or on the other side of the world.”
“Our experience in Scotland taught us an important lesson, the only way to reveal the true devastation caused by factory farming salmon is to investigate it ourselves. The industry has successfully concealed these impacts from the Australian public, just as they attempt to do in Scottish waters. We knew we had to apply the same direct investigation approach in Tasmania to uncover what’s really happening beneath the surface.”
The Foundation’s investigation in Tasmania continues its mission of bringing transparency to environmental impacts of industrial practices that threaten unique ecosystems and endangered species across the globe.
The GBF is calling for immediate action to protect the Maugean skate, including:
- Independent monitoring of salmon farm impacts on water quality in Macquarie Harbour
- Establishment of sanctuary zones for the Maugean skate that exclude industrial activity
- Comprehensive health assessments of wild marine populations in proximity to salmon farms
- Transparent public reporting of disease outbreaks and treatments used in salmon farming operations
“While factory farmed salmon presents itself as a sustainable industry, our evidence from Tasmania adds to a growing body of documentation showing similar environmental concerns wherever these operations exist,” added Vince. “The Green Britain Foundation will continue to investigate and document these impacts to drive meaningful change in industry practices globally.”
Image credit: Green Britain Foundation (GBF)