Farm-bred Salmon
Reverend the Hon. Dr GORDON MOYES: I ask the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries a question without notice. Is the Minister aware that a recent study in Science magazine showed that farm-bred salmon in Scotland, the Faroe Islands, Washington State in the United States of America, and Chile contain significantly more carcinogens than wild-bred salmon? What percentage of salmon consumed in New South Wales is farm bred from Tasmania and other places? Has the NSW Fisheries undertaken a study to determine the level of carcinogens in farm-bred salmon sold to the people of this State? Is the Minister aware that the United States of America Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers not to eat farm-bred salmon more than once a month?
The Hon. IAN MACDONALD: I am aware of some of the material that Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes has raised in his question. I will obtain a detailed answer from the NSW Fisheries.
The Hon. Patricia Forsythe: You should read the article.
The Hon. IAN MACDONALD: I know the article. As I understand it, the conditions where Tasmanian salmon are raised are quite different to the more intensive areas of Scotland.
Mr Ian Cohen: Why are they different?
The Hon. IAN MACDONALD: There are many reasons why high levels of agents from industrial sites could impact on farm-bred fish in areas of Scotland and throughout the North Sea.
Mr Ian Cohen: You will fix it with GE farm-bred salmon.
The Hon. IAN MACDONALD: That is not a proposal I am considering. I believe that the Tasmanian salmon is the best salmon in the world and would have low levels of any of the agents that the honourable member has referred to in his question. It could be eaten more than once a month. I will obtain a detailed answer and provide it to the honourable member.
