The introduction of the second wellboat is a strategic activity to ensure the highest standards of fish health and welfare, reduce environmental impact and invest in community. This initiative aligns with our purpose of sustainably feeding tomorrow by cultivating the ocean with care, nourishing the world, providing for our families and building stronger communities.
Fish Welfare: The wellboat represents best practice for fish welfare and biomass management. By improving health outcomes, it offers a significant advancement over conventional bathing methods. This ensures healthier fish and more efficient operations, aligning with our commitment to high standards of animal welfare.
Transparency & Responsiveness: We are committed to helping the community understand Tassal’s operations and the technical aspects of finfish aquaculture. Through open communication, we aim to address concerns and engage with the community in a meaningful way. Transparency and responsiveness are key to building trust and fostering positive relationships with our stakeholders.
Community Benefits: There is expected to be a reduction in overall operational boat traffic within the waterways. In areas where bathing activities may occur during the evening or night, we are implementing strategies to ensure these operations are conducted as quietly and unobtrusively as possible. We have also taken into consideration any previous issues relating to the wellboat and important upgrades and alterations have been instigated. Additionally, the second wellboat will streamline our bathing operations, which traditionally involve a lengthy process of disconnecting pens, towing them to a sheltered site, and then returning them to the grid.
Environmental Stewardship: The wellboat’s operations are designed with sustainability in mind. By reducing vessel activity in sensitive areas and significantly lowering freshwater demands, we minimise our environmental footprint. Through innovative bathing methods, we will cut our water usage by one-third, reducing reliance on local water supplies. This initiative reflects our broader commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable aquaculture practices
Safety: The wellboat enables operations to be undertaken in our high energy sites while reducing our Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) risks. This ensures a safer working environment for our crew and supports our ongoing commitment to safety and risk management.
