Save Tassie's Sardines

Sardines are a crucial species in Tasmania’s ocean food webs, feeding penguins, marine mammals, and large pelagic fish like snapper, tuna and kingfish.

Now an industrial scale sardine fishery is proposed around Tasmania with potentially devastating consequences for species further up the food-chain, and the coastal communities that depend on the ocean for both livelihood and recreation. Not only that - but the sardines are likely destined for salmon feed.

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 supporting 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.

Send your submission in now before 6th March to Save Tassie's Sardines!

@Eric Woehler