A mass die-off of salmon in Tasmania has raised significant environmental concerns, particularly as the remains wash ashore at Verona Sands ahead of the upcoming elections.

The die-off, attributed to an outbreak of the bacterium Piscirickettsia salmonis, has been described by Tasmania's environmental regulator as an 'unprecedented salmon mortality event,' with estimates of dead fish reaching into the millions.

As public sentiment shifts, some political candidates are advocating for a ban on open-sea salmon farming, suggesting a potential shift in voting patterns away from traditional parties.

Environmentalist Bob Brown predicts a significant shift in voting patterns due to growing public discontent over environmental issues related to salmon farming.

Controversy surrounds the government’s $37.5 million trial to improve oxygen levels in Macquarie Harbour, with critics arguing it primarily benefits the salmon industry at the expense of environmental integrity.

This outbreak, which occurred in February 2025, resulted in the death of over 1 million farmed fish, leading to public outrage and the revocation of Huon Aquaculture's animal welfare certification by the RSPCA.

Critics, including the Bob Brown Foundation, have pointed to poor farming practices, such as overstocking and excessive nitrogen pollution, as contributing factors to the die-off.

Environmental activists are particularly concerned about the impact of salmon farming on local ecosystems, especially regarding the endangered Maugean skate, of which only about 4,100 remain globally.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government has faced criticism for intervening to protect jobs in the salmon industry, blocking reviews that could have led to a suspension of operations due to environmental concerns.

Recent amendments to federal environment laws, supported by both major parties, limit environmental ministers' ability to reconsider past decisions about projects like salmon farms, further intensifying local anger.

The salmon farming industry, valued at $1.3 billion and operated by eight companies including Huon Aquaculture and Tassal, is critical for local employment, though estimates of job numbers vary widely.

Candidates in the upcoming elections are focusing on salmon farming, healthcare, and economic issues, with some positioning themselves as anti-salmon advocates.