Mass fish deaths discovered at remote Kimberley Tassal barramundi sea cage operation

A mass fish death event uncovered at Tassal’s barramundi sea cage fish farm operation at Cone Bay, which is still unfolding, has shocked local conservationists and raised fears around the impact on the pristine Kimberley marine environment.

Conservation group Environs Kimberley is calling on the West Australian Cook government to reject the expansion of the sea cages which is currently being assessed by the WA EPA and Commonwealth Environment Department.

Tassal barramundi being dumped at the Broome tip.

“The Kimberley’s Buccaneer Archipelago is in the top 4% of the most pristine coastlines in the world, its National Heritage listed and in a marine park, it’s the wrong place for industrial fish farming," said Environs Kimberley executive director Martin Pritchard.

"The mass fish death at Cone Bay should end any discussion of expanding Tassal’s industrial fish farming operations across thousands of square kilometres in the even more remote and pristine Buccaneer Archipelago and Mayala Marine Park. The expansion proposal is currently under assessment by both the WA EPA and the Federal environment department, DCCEEW," Mr Pritchard said.

Dead Cone Bay Tassal barramundi.

"This mass mortality event is extremely concerning and shows the industry is not fit for such a globally significant marine environment. We’re calling on the Premier Roger Cook to publicly acknowledge how significant the Kimberley coast is and rule out the expansion plans by Tassal to industrialise it with sea cages,” he said.

“Multi-national sea cage operator Tassal, already under huge pressure over its salmon farming operations in Tasmania, must be directed by the WA government to immediately suspend its operations at Cone Bay pending a full, independent investigation. No more juvenile barramundi should be taken to Cone Bay and the existing fish at Cone Bay, if any survive, must be safely and humanely removed.

“We will be writing urgently to WA Environment Minister Swinbourn urging him to launch a full, open and independent investigation, suspend current operations at Cone Bay and reject Tassal’s proposed expansion of industrial sea cage fish farming across the Buccaneer Archipelago.”

Help stop Tassal's sea cage expansion here.