❓ A WA parliamentary question investigates a mass barramundi death event at Tassal's Kimberley sea cage operation, covering reporting timelines, causes, disposal, environmental impact, and regulatory oversight. The Minister's response provides some details while citing commercial confidentiality for specific data.
AnsweredQoN 1088Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
In reference to the recent disease outbreak and mass barramundi deaths at Tassal's sea cage operation on the Kimberley coast I ask: (a) did Tassal advise the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) of the mass barramundi deaths as soon as Tassal became aware of the mass deaths; (b) if no to (a), why not; (c) if no to (a), what was the period of delay; (d) what date in early October did Tassal inform DPIRD; (e) what date did Tassal inform Traditional Owners of the mass deaths; (f) what date did Tassal inform Traditional Owners of the mass deaths; (g) what date did Tassal inform community stakeholders of the mass deaths; (h) what does DPIRD know or believe to be the cause of the mass Barramundi deaths; (i) when date did the Minister first become aware of the mass Barramundi deaths; (j) what actions did the Minister take upon becoming aware of the mass Barramundi deaths; (k) has the mass Barramundi deaths event ended, or are fish still dying; (l) how many Barramundi, in numbers and tonnes, are known to have died since the event began, either from: (i) disease; and (ii) subsequent destruction by Tassal; (m) have fish species other than Barramundi died as part of this fish death event; (n) if yes to (m), which species and in what numbers; (o) have all the Barramundi corpses been taken away for burial; (p) if yes to (o), how were they collected; (q) if yes to (o), how were they transported; (r) if yes to (o), where have the corpses been buried; (s) are all the burial sites licenced to receive dead fish corpses at the tonnages involved; (t) if yes to (s), by whom; (u) did fish corpses sink to the ocean floor beneath the sea cages; (v) if yes to (u) what amount of fish corpses; (w) if yes to (u) have those fish corpses been collected; (x) are the fish corpses decomposing on the ocean floor beneath Tassal’s cages; (y) on what basis does DPIRD as regulator consider it is safe and humane for Tassal's sea cage operation continue to operate; (z) has Praziquantel been used by Tassal during this mass fish kill event; (aa) if yes to (z), in what quantities and under what conditions; (bb) has there been, or will there be, an investigation into the mass Barramundi deaths event; (cc) if no to (bb), why not; (dd) if yes to (bb), please provide details of how and by whom the investigation will be conducted; (ee) if yes to (bb), will the investigation include the areas surrounding the sea pens to determine if there has been any spread of disease or pathogens into the natural environment; (ff) if yes to (bb), when is the investigation expected to conclude and provide its report ; (gg) if yes to (bb), will the report of the investigation be released in full to the public; (hh) if no to (gg), why not; (ii) have there been any Barramundi escapees from the sea pens into the natural environment in the last three years; (jj) if yes to (ii), what is the estimated number of Barramundi that have escaped the sea pens; (kk) given the large number of proven and documented environmental, occupational safety and other regulatory breaches committed by Tassal Operations Pty Ltd (TOPL), other entities within TOPL and Tassal’s Canadian parent company Cooke Inc, does the Minister consider Tassal to be fit to continue to operate in the Kimberley’s sensitive, remote and pristine marine environment; and (ll) if yes to (kk), why?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 February 2026
Responded by
Minister for Fisheries
Response time
5 days
(a) Yes.
(b-c) Not applicable.
(d) 3 October 2025.
(e-g) Tassal manages its own engagement with its stakeholders.
(h) Causes of elevated mortality include a naturally occurring blood fluke and changes to water temperature.
(i) On 31 October 2025, advice was provided by DPIRD that Tassal Operations Pty Ltd (Tassal) had recently experienced elevated levels of barramundi mortality at its Cone Bay operation and that all mortalities had been removed from the affected sea pens to manage any impact to the environment or amenity.
(j) Not action was required from the Minister – mortality rates were being managed and declining.
(k) The period of elevated mortalities has ended.
(l) This information is confidential under Section 250 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (FRMA). This provision seeks to balance public interest with commercial confidentiality, ensure future accurate data supply to regulators, and maintain fair regulation. Tassal publishes survival rates in its annual sustainability reports, which are publicly available.
(m) No.
(n) Not applicable.
(o) Yes.
(p) Fish were removed by Tassal personnel and placed in sealed containers for transport and disposal.
(q) By barge and truck in sealed containers.
(r) Broome Waste Management Facility.
(s) Yes.
(t) Shire of Broome.
(u) No.
(v) Not applicable.
(w) Not applicable.
(x) No.
(y) DPIRD continues to monitor Tassal’s compliance with regulatory requirements and to support management of fish health and welfare matters. Some level of mortality is common in many animal production systems.
(z) Therapeutant treatments are administered with direction and oversight of veterinarians pursuant to State and Commonwealth regulatory requirements. Use of Praziquantel has been trialled to support optimal fish health and welfare outcomes. As with all farmed livestock, veterinary therapeutants may be used in Tassal’s barramundi operations when clinically indicated and at the discretion of veterinarians. All medicines used are approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, with strict measures in place to ensure that fish are not harvested until sufficient time has elapsed to ensure that residues are well below legal limits.
(aa) Therapeutant treatments are administered with direction and oversight of veterinarians pursuant to State and Commonwealth regulatory requirements. To date Praziquantel has only been used on a trial basis, and consequently, volumes used have been very low. For routine use, DPIRD will apply management controls.
(bb-cc)Tassal veterinarians are working with DPIRD to help prevent future occurrence.
(dd-hh) Not applicable.
(ii) Yes.
(jj) This information is confidential under Section 250 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 . This provision seeks to balance public interest with commercial confidentiality, ensure future accurate data supply to regulators, and maintain fair regulation. Tassal have consented to release of the following information:
· In 2025, there was one reportable escape of approximately 1000 fish from a seapen.
· Tassal has spent $30 million on improving operating and environmental performance, including over $20 million on on-farm infrastructure and technology to improve fish containment, predator exclusion, and feed conversion efficiency.
· (ii) Tassal’s investment in infrastructure has resulted in a significant reduction in the frequency of fish escape events (prior to Tassal’s acquisition of the Cone Bay farm, it was a regular occurrence).
(kk) Yes.
(ll) Tassal operations are regulated through conditions and associated environmental monitoring plans, which are specific to the Cone Bay operation. Tassal remains compliant with these conditions and plans.
(b-c) Not applicable.
(d) 3 October 2025.
(e-g) Tassal manages its own engagement with its stakeholders.
(h) Causes of elevated mortality include a naturally occurring blood fluke and changes to water temperature.
(i) On 31 October 2025, advice was provided by DPIRD that Tassal Operations Pty Ltd (Tassal) had recently experienced elevated levels of barramundi mortality at its Cone Bay operation and that all mortalities had been removed from the affected sea pens to manage any impact to the environment or amenity.
(j) Not action was required from the Minister – mortality rates were being managed and declining.
(k) The period of elevated mortalities has ended.
(l) This information is confidential under Section 250 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (FRMA). This provision seeks to balance public interest with commercial confidentiality, ensure future accurate data supply to regulators, and maintain fair regulation. Tassal publishes survival rates in its annual sustainability reports, which are publicly available.
(m) No.
(n) Not applicable.
(o) Yes.
(p) Fish were removed by Tassal personnel and placed in sealed containers for transport and disposal.
(q) By barge and truck in sealed containers.
(r) Broome Waste Management Facility.
(s) Yes.
(t) Shire of Broome.
(u) No.
(v) Not applicable.
(w) Not applicable.
(x) No.
(y) DPIRD continues to monitor Tassal’s compliance with regulatory requirements and to support management of fish health and welfare matters. Some level of mortality is common in many animal production systems.
(z) Therapeutant treatments are administered with direction and oversight of veterinarians pursuant to State and Commonwealth regulatory requirements. Use of Praziquantel has been trialled to support optimal fish health and welfare outcomes. As with all farmed livestock, veterinary therapeutants may be used in Tassal’s barramundi operations when clinically indicated and at the discretion of veterinarians. All medicines used are approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, with strict measures in place to ensure that fish are not harvested until sufficient time has elapsed to ensure that residues are well below legal limits.
(aa) Therapeutant treatments are administered with direction and oversight of veterinarians pursuant to State and Commonwealth regulatory requirements. To date Praziquantel has only been used on a trial basis, and consequently, volumes used have been very low. For routine use, DPIRD will apply management controls.
(bb-cc)Tassal veterinarians are working with DPIRD to help prevent future occurrence.
(dd-hh) Not applicable.
(ii) Yes.
(jj) This information is confidential under Section 250 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 . This provision seeks to balance public interest with commercial confidentiality, ensure future accurate data supply to regulators, and maintain fair regulation. Tassal have consented to release of the following information:
· In 2025, there was one reportable escape of approximately 1000 fish from a seapen.
· Tassal has spent $30 million on improving operating and environmental performance, including over $20 million on on-farm infrastructure and technology to improve fish containment, predator exclusion, and feed conversion efficiency.
· (ii) Tassal’s investment in infrastructure has resulted in a significant reduction in the frequency of fish escape events (prior to Tassal’s acquisition of the Cone Bay farm, it was a regular occurrence).
(kk) Yes.
(ll) Tassal operations are regulated through conditions and associated environmental monitoring plans, which are specific to the Cone Bay operation. Tassal remains compliant with these conditions and plans.
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