Tasmanian salmon workers fight to defend their industry
Today the industry supports over 5,000 jobs. The industry is dominated by three private companies, Tassal, Huon Acquaculture, and Petuna Seafoods; all three have union-negotiated Enterprise Agreements with their workers.
In the early years, the Tasmanian salmon industry enjoyed widespread public support as an environmentally responsible alternative to harvesting wild fisheries. Recently, however, it has found itself under a massive attack from environmental groups who seek to portray the industry in a negative light.
A downturn in the salmon industry will have a particularly damaging impact on remote rural areas where there are limited employment options for local workers. Tasmania already has a high rate of youth unemployment compared to other Australian states.
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