Salmon Farming

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Tasmania has the most valuable salmon industry in Australia, with the largest marine salmon farming industry ​​in the country supplying over 90 per cent of Australian Atlantic salmon production.​​​​​

Tasmanian salmon aquaculture is an important contributor to the state’s economy and to the overall Australian seafood market. Tasmania supplies over 90 per cent of Australian Atlantic salmon production, with a value of over $1 billion.

The Tasmanian Government works to support the development of a modern salmon industry that meets the long-term needs of Tasmanian operators and the local community. The modern Tasmanian salmon aquaculture industry is highly innovative, with a range of regulatory and operational measures bringing significant enhancements to the sector across sustainability, biosecurity and productivity.

The Tasmanian Salmon Industry Plan​ provides an enduring strategic framework to guide the Government’s long term priorities for the industry.

​

​Key Species​

Salmonid species farmed in Tasmania include:

  • Salmo salar (Atlantic salmon)

  • Oncorhynchus mykiss (Rainbow trout​)


​Cultivation Methods​​

​Salmon aquaculture in Tasmania is comprised of land-based freshwater hatcheries and marine based grow-out operations, along with advanced harvesting operations and vertically integrated processing and distribution capacity. ​

Freshwater hatcheries​​

Freshwater hatcheries are land-based aquaculture facilities that breed, hatch and rear juvenile salmonids, which are then transferred to marine fish farms for on-growing. 

Some hatcheries use sophisticated recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), which enable water re-use, improved environmental performance and controlled growing conditions. Others use flow-through systems or a combination of RAS and flow-through systems.

As outlined in the Tasmanian Salmon Industry Plan, a framework will be developed to transition flow-through hatchery systems over a certain size to RAS. This will enable juvenile salmon to grow a larger size, thereby reducing the time spent on-growing in the marine environment.

Learn more about salmon hatcheries.​

​Marine farms​

The waters of Tasmania produce some of the fastest growing salmon in the world. Salmon are kept in pens made of strong nets tensioned with ropes, protecting the salmon from predatory wildlife such as seals, birds and sharks and enabling operators to feed, contain and harvest the salmon.

The placement and location of marine farms are considered according to the potential impact on the local community and recreational activities, as well as proximity to shore bases and storage facilities.


Salmon Planning and Regulation​​

Tasmania’s salmon industry has grown to become the single biggest primary sector in the state, which requires robust planning and regulation for sustainable long-term development. 

​Learn more about salmon planning and regulation.  


Salmon Hatcheries​​

​Freshwater salmon hatcheries are land-based aquaculture facilities that breed, hatch and rear juvenile salmonids, which are then transferred to marine fish farms for on-growing. 

Learn more about salmon hatcheries​​.​


​Salmon Data​​

The Tasmanian Salmon Farming Data Portal (Salmon Portal) is a data resource that promotes transparency and contains information on production, environmental issues, fish health and operational compliance across Tasmanian aquaculture industry. Developed by the Aquaculture Branch, it also includes general information about the salmon industry and biosecurity, industry operation, research and the environment. 

Visit the Salmon Farming Data Portal​​.