Huon Aquaculture’s farms were not inspected as part of the WWF report commissioned in 2019.
Huon has never run its operations in Macquarie Harbour in the same manner as other producers and has repeatedly questioned the standards of the wider industry and the WWF endorsement of those practices. (Read our statements to the Tasmanian Legislative Council Inquiry here – page 70. Document L identified in Huon’s statement can be read here >
Huon treats these matters so seriously it took the state and federal governments to court to enhance the environmental and animal welfare standards for salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour, specifically to protect and preserve the marine environment.
Huon’s farming operations in Macquarie Harbour represent about two per cent of our salmon production.
The WWF report raises serious questions as to why the conservation group endorsed sub-standard salmon farming operations in Macquarie Harbour in the first place.
Since 2012, Huon Aquaculture has been certified by GLOBAL G.A.P, the most widely accepted farming sector food safety certification in the world. Huon’s farming practices in relation to salmon welfare are certified by the RSPCA, which imposes more than 400 compliance standards that are rigorously assessed on a continuous basis. The company is proud of its environmental, farming and safety record, which reflects the company’s decades of experience in the industry and the commitment of its entire workforce to maintain the highest standards.
Huon opted to discontinue ASC accreditation due to the lack of third-party rigour in their auditing process. During its time within the ASC accreditation system, Huon did not select the auditors but covered the cost of audits, which is standard practice for certification.
