ABC's CITIZEN JURY — Fixing salmon farming's environmental harms in Tasmania

What this episode covers

ABC Radio National's CITIZEN JURY takes hard, hot-button issues affecting a community — and places citizens at the centre of finding solutions. It's citizen-driven democracy in action! Tasmanian salmon is on dinner plates across Australia. It's a 1.4 billion-dollar industry producing jobs for Tasmanians, and more than 70, 000 tonnes of fish annually — with plans for expansion.  But salmon farming has also become a lightning-rod for locals concerned about its environmental impact — on water quality, wild species, and then there was the mass mortality event last summer which saw over 1 million salmon die and smelly fatty fishy globules wash up on local beaches.  Join BIG IDEAS host and science journalist Natasha Mitchell in the historic town of Franklin in the Huon Valley with three Citizen jurors, two expert witnesses, and a live audience of passionate locals — including salmon workers and activists — as they listen, debate, and share solutions on this fraught issue. CITIZEN JURORS John Stanfield Lifelong recreational fisher in Tasmania, former army employee, now works in health Founder, RecFishTas (Recreational Fishing in Tasmania) Facebook Group Peter Graham Sculptor, former mining industry geologist Secretary, Port Huon Progress Association  Lives near a salmon company's hatchery facility Dr Rayne Allinson Historian, former university academic, author First-time environmental campaigner and state election candidate after mass salmon die-off polluted her local beach in 2025.  Employed by newly elected MP Peter George's electoral office in 2025.   EXPERT WITNESSES Professor Jeff Ross Senior researcher Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre Institute of Marine & Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania  Christine Coughanowr  Water quality management consultant Co-chair, Tasmania Independent Science Council Founder and former director,  Derwent Estuary Program partnership INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVE Dr John Wittington CEO, Salmon Tasmania Former CEO, Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) Former Secretary of the Department of Primary Industries, Parks Water and Environment, Tasmania AUDIENCE Members of the Huon Valley community and surrounds. The call-out for audience was made on ABC Hobart, ABC Radio National, and The Cygnet. Huon & Channel Classifieds. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thanks to Huon Valley Council for granting the ABC access to The Palais Theatre in Franklin for this event. Thanks to Jo Spargo and the ABC Hobart team for supporting this Citizen Jury event. Thanks to Huon Aquaculture staff for a tour of their hatchery facility and salmon pens for the Citizen Jury members and ABC Citizen Jury team.   FURTHER INFORMATION Tasmanian Salmon Farming Data (Salmon Portal) Fin-Fish Farming in Tasmania Legislative Council Inquiry report (2022) How many salmon farms are there in Tasmania — and who owns them? (ABC News, 2025) Massive fish deaths in Tasmanian salmon farms to be investigated (ABC 730, 2025) Tasmanian salmon industry reeling from largest-ever fish deaths event as EPA launches investigation (ABC News, 2025)