Salmon operators in Tasmania use underwater explosives to deter fur seals at fish farms, according to government figures released in mid-2026. The data show that almost 1,800 explosives are directed at seals during the first half of 2026.
The reporting also states that the practice has continued since 2016, with more than 150,000 underwater explosives used in total to deter seals at Tasmanian salmon farms. The figures come from the state Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE Tas), which compiles information on such deterrence measures.
Both outlets focus on the scale and timing of the deterrent activity, drawing attention to how frequently explosives are deployed during the year. While they describe the same underlying government dataset, their emphasis differs: one highlights the cumulative total since 2016, and the other focuses on the near-1,800 detonations in the first half of 2026.
