Salmon company Tassal claims seal deterrence activity in production areas has reduced despite figures in a government document showing beanbag bullets have been used more this year than last year.
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A Right to Information document released on Friday revealed beanbags were used 1250 times in the first half of this year and 1000 for the entirety of last year.
It showed underwater explosives were used 8856 times over the first six months this year and 28,748 last year.
A Tassal spokesman said seal deterrents had decreased in recent years due to a rollout of seal-proof infrastructure by salmon companies.
He said Tassal had invested $70 million in sanctuary pens alone.
“The salmon industry has a duty of care to provide a safe work environment for its people and seal deterrents assist reduce negative interactions between staff, seals and stock,” the spokesman said.
“We are very pleased with the performance of the new pens and we remain committed to programs focused on zero harm for people, stock and wildlife across our operations.”
Huon Aquaculture said it had invested $90 million in fortress pens.
A company spokeswoman said they believed the pens were most effective as a seal-control method and to protect workers.
Permits for workers to use beanbag bullets must be approved by the state’s Primary Industries Department.
The RTI document showed there had been 369 permits issued for seal deterrence between 2013-14 and 514 between 2017-18.
It showed that four workers had been injured through interactions with seals over five years.
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said thousands of Australian fur seals were being shot by ‘beanbag’ bullets, shocked with underwater explosives, severely injured and “undoubtedly killed”.
She said the government should end the “cruel management tool”.
Premier Will Hodgman said the government would be guided by experts on seal deterrence methods.