Newly released government data has revealed the extent of seal deterrent use at Tasmania’s salmon farms during the first six months of 2026.
A total of 1,797 underwater explosive devices were deployed across the industry. Huon Aquaculture accounted for 1,126, almost two thirds of the total, while Tassal used 551 and Petuna 120. Tassal also fired 31 beanbag rounds at seals around its Tasman Peninsula operations.
The use of these deterrents has renewed debate over the industry’s interactions with protected native wildlife. The Tasmanian Greens have called for explosive deterrents and beanbag rounds to be banned, while Salmon Tasmania says their use has fallen by more than 90 per cent over the past decade, which it attributes to investment in improved seal exclusion infrastructure.
More Than 150,000 Deterrents Since 2016
Government data analysed by the Tasmanian Inquirer shows Huon Aquaculture, Tassal and Petuna have collectively used 150,488 underwater explosive devices against seals since 2016.
Overall use has declined sharply since 2021, although the trend has varied between companies and locations. Tassal’s use during the first half of 2026 was more than double that recorded over the same six months in either of the previous two years, with more than half of its devices deployed at Tasman Peninsula leases.
Storm Bay accounted for much of Huon Aquaculture’s deterrent use, with 892 explosive devices used at farms in the area. Petuna recorded considerably fewer, using 82 at its Macquarie Harbour leases and 38 in the Tamar River.
Seals can enter salmon pens and prey on farmed fish. Tassal reported around 1,100 seal entries into its cages over the past three years, although entries fell by 26 per cent during 2025 compared with the previous year.
Protected Wildlife, Permitted Deterrents
Australian fur seals are protected wildlife in Tasmania. The species, which is commonly encountered around the state’s coast, was hunted to the brink of extinction during the commercial sealing era and is now wholly protected. NRE Tasmania describes it as the fourth rarest seal species in the world and says its population has been slow to recover.
Tasmania’s Seal Management Framework allows marine farming operators to undertake certain seal management actions under permit. Operators must meet minimum infrastructure standards designed to exclude wildlife from fish pens before NRE Tasmania can authorise secondary measures such as seal deterrent devices.
These include seal crackers, explosive charges thrown into the water and detonated below the surface, as well as beanbag rounds containing lead shot. Other permitted measures include trapping and sedation of seals that enter fish pens.
NRE Tasmania also publishes regulatory information through its Salmon Farming Data Portal, including regional data on environmental monitoring, fish health, operational compliance and seal mortalities.
Four Seal Deaths Recorded in 2026
Four fur seal deaths were attributed to aquaculture operations during the first six months of 2026. Two became entangled in salmon cages, one was struck by a vessel and another died during an attempt to sedate and relocate it.
Marine farming operators are required to report seal deaths and injuries to NRE Tasmania, which assesses the circumstances of each incident to determine whether it should be attributed to aquaculture operations. An aquaculture attributable mortality does not necessarily mean that a deterrent device was involved.
None of the four fur seal deaths recorded during the first half of 2026 was attributed to explosive deterrents or beanbag rounds.
Industry and Greens Disagree Over the Figures
Tasmanian Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has called for an end to the use of explosive deterrents and beanbag rounds containing lead shot against seals. She described the practices as “legalised animal cruelty on an industrial scale”, and called on the government to end what she characterised as the state sanctioned shooting and bombing of Tasmanian wildlife by salmon farms.
Salmon Tasmania CEO John Whittington rejects that characterisation. He said deterrent use had fallen by more than 90 per cent over the past decade, which he attributed to investment in seal exclusion pens and other measures intended to keep seals out. Whittington accused the Greens of misrepresenting the data by focusing on current use without the longer term decline.
The data comes as Animals Australia pursues two formal complaints with NRE Tasmania concerning animal welfare within the salmon industry, including the treatment of farmed Atlantic salmon and interactions with native wildlife such as seals, dolphins and seabirds.
Wild Island examined those complaints and the industry’s response in our recent article, Tasmania’s Salmon Industry Faces New Animal Welfare Complaints.
Editorial Note: Wild Island is committed to publishing accurate, evidence based wildlife information. This article has been researched using authoritative sources, including government agencies, official records, statements from relevant organisations and reputable news reporting. Information was verified against the sources available at the time of publication, with significant subsequent developments added as dated updates where appropriate.
Image Credit: JJ Harrison / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
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