ANSWER 1

Tasmanian salmon stocking densities are already very low by global standards, so the focus should be on a combination of good animal husbandry and operational management, rather than simply reducing numbers.

Salmon are schooling fish and naturally tend to group together, regardless of stocking density. The companies publish information on stocking densities on their websites, and maximum permitted densities form some of the state regulation.

Summer preparedness involves a range of measures, including summer diets suited to warmer water metabolism, adjusting feeding during periods of extreme heat (or extreme cold), increasing pen cleaning to maximise water flow, and using aeration to bring cooler, deeper water to fish.

Early harvesting may also be appropriate where conditions and fish size justify it. The industry also have established selective breeding programs that raise fish based on Tasmanian characteristics and conditions.

Decades of site specific data and operational experience also inform where fish are held, with larger fish generally placed at deeper, cooler and more stable sites, and smaller fish at more sheltered sites better suited to seasonal fluctuations.

This is similar to other types of animal farming, where stock are matched to paddocks based on their age, suitability and exposure to weather conditions.

Continuous monitoring and early warning systems are also critical to manage risks as well.