Tasmania’s sardine population is facing being scooped up for salmon feed and this is your opportunity to say no!
Sardines are a keystone species that hold the marine food web together. Removing them at industrial scale risks knock-on impacts for seabirds, marine mammals and recreational fisheries.
The recently released Tasmanian Sardine Fishery Policy Paper proposes an initial catch limit of 7,500 tonnes per year, but we know from an earlier IMAS report that escalation could be considered up to 30,000 tonnes per year. Even at 7,500 tonnes, this industry would already be the second largest sardine fishery in Australia!
Proposals are not currently for an ocean-to table fishery which would benefit the nutritional needs of the Tasmanian population.
There is currently no market of this size for human consumption in Australia so we can be sure these sardines are headed for salmon feed.
Moreover, bycatch of dolphins, seals, sharks and seabirds continues to be an issue in industries of this scale, using the proposed purse seine method of fishing.
While supportive of a small-scale local sardine fishery providing Tasmanian jobs, and for human consumption, we urge caution and many more years of science before proceeding.
Tasmania has a history of environmental harm and community outrage with industrial-scale fisheries, and there are lessons that can be learned from the past.
Thanks for taking action and working together for a better future for the oceans we love! If you can chip in at all to support our work please do! You can donate here.
BEC
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