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. 

Broome-based conservation group Environs Kimberley (EK) is calling on the WA and Federal governments to reject the proposal from global sea cage fish farm developer Tassal to establish 84 barramundi sea cages across the remote, environmentally sensitive, National heritage-listed Buccaneer Archipelago north of Broome.

EK’s submission to the WA EPA assessment outlines seven of the reasons the proposal should be rejected.

Tassal, owned by Canadian giant Cooke Aquaculture Inc., is one of the companies involved in the ongoing salmon sea cage controversy in Tasmania. It recently acquired the existing, relatively small, Cone Bay barramundi sea cage operation in the Kimberley and has put forward a proposal to establish 84 sea cages spread across 50 km in the Mayala Marine Park which forms part of the National Heritage-listed Buccaneer Archipelago.

EK Executive Director Martin Pritchard said the marine and island environment of the Mayala Marine Park and Buccaneer Archipelago is incredibly significant for its environmental values and is no place for a high-risk industry like large scale sea cage fish farms.

Humpback whale calf with its mother. Photo: Matt Deakin.

“Recent experience in Tasmania, and also a massive fish death event at Cone Bay in 2019, show that large scale sea cage fish farming brings many impacts and risks which under no circumstances should be imposed on a globally significant environment like the Buccaneer Archipelago.

“The Kimberley coast is in the top 4% of least impacted coastlines in the world.  (Source: Halpern et al 2008)

“The marine environment of the Kimberley, including Buccaneer Archipelago, is a recognised stronghold for species like Humpback whales who give birth here, dolphins, dugong, turtles, rays and sawfish – species which are under increasing pressure elsewhere due to habitat loss, pollution, fishing and global warming.

“The Buccaneer Archipelago is also popular amongst recreational fishers who are concerned about this proposal.

Cone Bay. Photo: Martin Pritchard.

“Here in the Kimberley these marine species have the world’s most pristine environment where they can migrate, breed, raise their young and feed in safety. The many islands too are incredibly significant as refugia for species whose populations have sharply declined on the mainland due to introduced species and changed fire regimes.

“Spreading sea cage fish farming through this remote and pristine marine and island environment brings many risks including pollution, introduction of pests and diseases, attraction of predators, interruption of breeding and feeding patterns, unauthorised access to islands and disposal of large volumes of dead barramundi.

“Because of its remoteness, high tides, fast currents, narrow channels (and cyclones), if there is a major event like mass fish escape or mass disease and death event, it will be logistically very difficult to address.

Edeline Islands. Photo: Martin Pritchard.

“There is absolutely no good reason to put at risk a unique environment like the Buccaneer Archipelago to grow barramundi in sea cages. Fish farming should be undertaken close to population centres and support services and should be developed as closed-cycle operations on land, not in the open sea. This is the case with barramundi farming in the Northern Territory.”

Read more: WA Today's report "Tarnished Tassal brand targets WA barramundi".

Environs Kimberley (EK) has rejected Woodside’s just-announced changes to its Browse gas project on Scott Reef as ‘tinkering around the edges’.

The WA EPA is now seeking public comment on Woodside’s five proposed ‘Section 43A’ changes which the company claims will reduce the project’s environmental risks and impacts.

Executive Director of EK, Martin Pritchard, said the proposed changes would in no way change the fact that the Scott Reef project should never be approved.

“Scott Reef is a natural jewel off the Kimberley coast. There is no way that drilling, processing and piping gas in this living marine environment could ever be made environmentally acceptable.

“In 2024 it was revealed via an FOI application that the EPA had formed the ‘preliminary view’ that Woodside’s Browse proposal was environmentally unacceptable.  According to the documents, the EPA cited threats to endangered whales and turtles and the risk of an oil spill and concluded that the project posed threats of serious or irreversible damage.

“Woodside’s tinkering has done nothing to change the reality that its project is unacceptable.

Scott Reef. Photo: Wendy Mitchell.

“We are dealing with a global climate and extinction crisis caused in large part by fossil fuels. It makes absolutely no sense to locate a new fossil fuel project, which would result in millions of tonnes of additional GHG emissions, in an environment rich in rare and threatened marine life like Pygmy blue whales, dolphins, marine turtles and sea snakes, as well as countless fish and coral species.

“Instead of tinkering with the project and toying with the assessment process, Woodside should get serious and drop the whole proposal.”

Banner image: Scott Reef. Photo: Alex Westover.

Over 1,000 people have sent a letter to Minister for Ports David Michael calling for the protection of Broome's Entrance Point Reef from an industrial jetty primarily for the oil and gas industry.

Mark Coles-Smith, Michael Jalaru Torres and Paul Boon call for the protection of Entrance Point Reef  Photo: Damian Kelly

Entrance Point Reef is a well-loved marine wonderland with over 40 species of coral, clown fish, shellfish and crustaceans. Locals regard it as a premier land-based fishing spot and a popular reef exploring area. Already, damage to the area has been done. You can read more here CALL TO STOP DESTRUCTIVE DRILLING AT ENTRANCE POINT REEF IN BROOME

“The community is calling on Minister for Ports David Michael to protect Entrance Point Reef which is a premier land-based fishing spot and the most popular reef exploring area in Broome from an industrial jetty which is mainly for the oil and gas industry," Environs Kimberley Director of Strategy Martin Pritchard said.

Naomi Pigram, Ngaire Pigram and Amanda McInerney call for the protection of Entrance Point Reef. Photo Damian Kelly

To send a letter to the Minister david Michael, go here Letter to Protect Entrance Point Reef

To sign a hard copy petition or help get signatures contact the EK Office on 0891921922 

 To stay informed on this issue, follow our link, scroll down & sign up: https://bit.ly/StayInformedWithEK

: Damian Kelly