An industry that demands the world's most stringent research and science to ensure it is meeting standards. That is recognised not only as some of the healthiest foods on the planet, but also some of the least impactful on the natural environment. This industry is vital in global food security and nutrition strategies and has a big part to play in transforming food systems. When critics attack the salmon industry with misinformation, it affects 12,000 hardworking people who get up every day to keep Tasmania moving and put food on tables. Today's debate on salmon farming misses an acknowledgement of who the industry is today and where we strive to be tomorrow.

Food safety standards in Australia are world leading, the regulatory setting is seriously high and farmed seafood is here for the long run. Put simply, our oceans have provided food for centuries. Reliance on wild fisheries led to unlimited effort globally. While effort management has dramatically changed, the ability for wild fisheries to sustain production and demand has been compromised. Aquaculture is and will continue to be a leader in food production. The global salmon industry has pioneered a best-practice approach to every aspect of farming, including voluntary certifications above regulations to make sure companies are on track and continually improve.

Tasmania's salmon farming is the world-leading high-performance farming model. If it was sport not farming, we are talking an Olympic team. And just like supporting an Olympic team, we have the world's best support and technical teams in Tasmania driving ongoing innovation.

Just as strength and conditioning training in sport has changed over the past 35 years to keep Olympic athletes at their peak, so has salmon farming techniques, operations, gear and the outputs of supply chain partners. When it comes to feeding the fish, we use real-time data, artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, automation, and remote tools. This means feed is delivered to the fish when they most need it most, making them healthier and reducing waste.

The Tasmanian salmon industry is here to stay - focussed on safe and sustainable production growth, integral for Tasmania's future and industry prosperity. We are working collaboratively because we know salmon farming is here for good.