Worker Safety a Priority for ASC in Seal Cracker Decision

7 August 2025: Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has approved a Variance Request (VR) to allow the limited and controlled use of seal crackers by trained staff in exceptional circumstances on ASC certified farms in Tasmania operated by Tassal. The approval of the request aims to protect worker health and safety while facilitating the discontinuation of Tassal’s use of crackers.  

In line with ASC’s mission to drive continuous improvement, the approval of this VR commits Tassal to collaborate with stakeholders—including academia, technology and infrastructure providers, and government—to develop effective measures to mitigate worker–seal interactions and ultimately phase out the use of crackers.  

A time bound project plan aimed at eliminating the use of crackers and a six-monthly status report including data on cracker use must be submitted to ASC. Additionally, there must be no significant increase in cracker usage. 

ASC is committed to ensuring that farmed seafood is produced in an environmentally and socially responsible way. The ASC Salmon Standard ensures that ASC certified farms adhere to good management practices that include reducing impact on the environment, protecting wildlife as well as ensuring the safety and wellbeing of staff on farms.  

On 21 June 2024, ASC received a Variance Request (VR) to the Salmon Standard from Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) SCS Global, on behalf of Tassal.  The VR process enables ASC to evaluate an adaptation of a global standard to a local context. This aligns with the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling Alliance (ISEAL) Codes of Good Practice. Any adaptation should still be in line with the original intention of the requirement.   

The VR sought to allow the controlled and limited conditional use of seal crackers by trained staff holding the appropriate legal permit, when worker safety is endangered. This would apply to the eight Tassal salmon farms which are ASC certified (none of which are in Macquarie Harbour). 

In making this decision, the Standard VR Committee considered stakeholder feedback from NGOs and the Australian Workers Union. Due to the complexity of the issue, the Committee requested an additional Technical Targeted Consultation be conducted for further technical input from experts.  

Having carefully considered all the evidence and feedback, the Committee emphasised that the health and safety of farm staff must be prioritised above any other consideration. The Committee therefore agreed that the use of controlled acoustic deterrents by trained holders of a valid Seal Deterrent Device Permit may be used occasionally to prevent dangerous interactions that could lead to injuries to workers or animals.  

Allowing the limited use of seal crackers, under strict controls and with a mandated plan to ultimately cease cracker use, strikes a necessary balance between animal welfare, operational safety, and environmental protection.   

This decision reflects ASC’s commitment to social responsibility, ensuring safe and responsible aquaculture practices and driving improvement in the farmed seafood industry.  

ENDS 

Additional information: 

The VR submission and information about the decision is available on the ASC website. 

What information did ASC consider in making this decision? 

• The VR was published on our website on 24 June 2024. Registered stakeholders, including NGOs, were notified for them to have the opportunity to provide feedback for consideration.  

• Feedback was received in a single submission on behalf of from Living Oceans Society, SeaChoice, Bob Brown Foundation, Tasmanian Alliance Marine Protection, Tasman Peninsula for Marine Protection, Neighbours of Fish Farming, Environment Tasmania, and a letter from the Australian Workers’ Union was submitted. 

• In line with our robust procedure, the VR was assessed by the ASC Standards and Science (SAS) team, who took stakeholder feedback into consideration along with the evidence presented by SCS Global. The team provided a recommendation to the Standard VR Committee. 

• In making this decision, the Standard VR Committee considered stakeholder feedback and due to the complexity of the issue, the Committee requested an additional Technical Targeted Consultation be conducted for further technical input from experts.  

• Additionally, the team reviewed evidence from Tassal regarding the significant impact of interactions with seals on worker safety, measures already taken to minimise seal interactions, as well as the potential effects of seal crackers on seals and other wildlife. 

What are Seal Crackers? 

• The use of seal crackers is approved by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and is regulated by the ‘Seal Management Framework 2018’ which provides a detailed guideline for what deterrents can be deployed in Tasmania, as well as how and when they can be used. 

• Seal crackers are designed to cause an immediate, short-term startle response, unlike other deterrent systems used in aquaculture, such as programable acoustic deterrents which emit continued nuisance sound to deter seals.  

• Under the ASC Salmon Standard Criterion 2.5 indicator 2.5.1, the use of seal crackers, acoustic deterrent devices (ADDs) or acoustic harassment devices (AHDs) is not permitted.   

What measures has Tassal already put in place to reduce seal interaction? 

• In 2019, Tassal spent approximately AUD $90 million to roll out sanctuary pens across all marine operations which has contributed to a reduction in the use of seal crackers by 94%.  

• The new pen design has an External Collar Exclusion Fence which is the main component for exclusion of seals, effectively putting a greater distance between seals and workers.   

• Farm workers are acutely aware of the challenges and risks of sharing space with seals and receive annual training to mitigate these risks. 

• Dedicated Wildlife Officers are also employed who are specially trained in the humane management of wildlife, as well as the safe and effective use of seal deterrents. 

What is a VR?  

A Variance Request (VR) is a formal submission made to the ASC by stakeholders, such as auditors and aquaculture producers, seeking permission to deviate from specific normative requirements of the ASC standard under exceptional or regionally specific circumstances. This process is designed to ensure that adaptations are made transparently and do not compromise the integrity of the standards.   

The VR process enables ASC to evaluate an adaptation of a global standard to a local context under the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling Alliance (ISEAL) Codes of Good Practice. Any adaptation should still be in line with the original intention of the requirement.   

For any VR to be approved, sufficient evidence must be provided to support the request and the farm must demonstrate that any adaptation is still in line with the original intention of the requirement. 

The VR Process  

ASC is committed to transparency and accountability and has strict procedures in place for managing and publicising VRs to encourage stakeholder and public consultation. The VR webpage and database on our website is also fully searchable by any interested party to ensure full transparency. 

For more detailed information about the VR process, follow this link.