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Ref:452/02 |
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AUSTRALIA
- Oct 10, 2002 |
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Marauding seals causing
aquaculture industry woes |
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Rogue seals posing a threat to fish farm workers are on
the hit list under a plan to safeguard Tasmania's
aquaculture industry.
A new strategy emphasises the need to establish protocols to
ward off marauding seals, but does not rule out killing the
protected animal.
A new report by the Marine Industries Council emphasises
non-lethal measures such as rubber bullets, underwater
explosives and better fish pens.
The chairman of the Salmonid Growers Association, Owen
Carrington-Smith, says the problem is costing the fishing
and aquaculture industry up to $13 million a year.
He says some seals have attacked fish farm workers.
"[They...are not just dogs of the sea, but also wolves of
the sea and there are some rottweilers amongst them," he
said.
Tasmania's Minister for Primary Industries Water and the
Environment, Bryan Green, says killing repeat offenders is a
last resort under the plan.
"The seal would have to be well known to us before we would
make any decision to have [the] final impact on the seal,"
he said.
The Greens have condemned the move without further research. |
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