Tassal

As of 30 June 2018 Tassal employs a total of 1,261 people.[4]

Tassal operates three hatcheries, which have the capacity to produce ten million smolt a year. These smolt come from broodstock from a Tasmanian-based industry selective breeding program. The state-of-the-art Rookwood Road Hatchery and Nursery underwent an expansion in April 2016 to make it the biggest land-based salmon nursery in Australia with the capacity to produce approximately 8 million smolt per year. After 8–12 months at Rookwood Nursery the smolt are transferred to sea.[5]

Tassal has six marine regions, where the standard pen has a volume of 11,600 cubic meters and holds enough salmon to produce 120 tonnes once harvested. Salmon are kept in these large sea cages between 12–18 months and continue to grow until they are ready to be harvested at an average weight of 5.0 kg live weight.

Tassal has five processing facilities including a smokehouse one retail outlet and a mobile Salmon truck. [6][7]

In September 2018 De Costi Seafoods, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tassal Group, acquired the land, assets and inventory of the Fortune Group prawn aquaculture business.[8]

In 2012 Tassal and WWF announced the “WWF Australia and Tassal Sustainable Aquaculture partnership." [9]

Tassal began trials into Integrated Multi-Trophic in November 2017, including growing Giant Kelp species alongside its leases in an aim to support improved ecological and environmental outcomes. In 2018 the trials indicated that integrated farming leads to improved environmental outcomes and can also help restore the kelp species in areas in Tasmanian waters where it had been depleted.  Tassal conducted its first successful kelp harvest from the trials in September 2018.[10]

In May 2018 Tassal established a joint venture with Petuna to farm in Macquarie Harbour. The goal was to improve stocking strategies, bio-security and allow longer fallowing periods to protect the environment.[11]

Tassal became the 17th member of the Global Salmon Initiative in February 2018. In addition, in 2018 they moved towards 100% recycling of their hard and soft plastic.[12]

The investigative television program Four Corners aired an episode in October 2016 which focused on the Tasmanian Salmon aquaculture industry, with issues covered including environmental impact, health and sustainability practices of companies.[13]

During November 2016 non-compliances were detected at leases in Macquarie Harbour, where three salmon companies farm. Tassal alerted the EPA to issues and subsequently destocked its Franklin lease in the Harbour. The lease was fallowed for 18 months, during which time Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) was not pursued for the lease as there were no fish in it.[14]

In May 2017 the ASC found Tassal had failed to comply with 19 requirements for ASC Certification.[15]

Concerns have been raised over the use of antibiotics by the company. Despite promising to cease using antibiotics, Tassal increased its use by 75% in 2015–16 when compared with the previous 12 months. The Australian reported that Tassal also recorded a more than 50 per cent rise in grams of antibiotic per tonne of fish produced: from 6g a tonne to 9.83g. Tassal uses the drug oxytetracycline, whilst the World Health Organization has argued for increased use of alternatives to feeding farmed animals antibiotics.[16]

• In 2017 Seafood Intelligence benchmarked Tassal as number two in sustainability reporting and transparency.[17]
• In 2015 CEO Mark Ryan was awarded the Banksia Foundation Richard Pratt CEO award for contributions to sustainability nationally.[18]
• In 2015 Tassal received the Coles “Sustainable and Ethical Excellence” award.[19]
• In November 2014 Tassal became the first salmon farming company globally to achieve the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification across its harvest sites.[20]
• In 2012 Tassal was recognized as an 'Employer of Choice' by the Tasmanian Government.[21]

Tassal owns several brands, including:

• Tassal
• Superior Gold
• Tasmanian Smokehouse
• De Costi Seafoods
• Aquatas[22]
• Salamanca Seafood Company[23]

• Official website