Wayne Foley, a long-time resident of Derby in northern Western Australia, has a deep connection to the waters of the Buccaneer Archipelago where he has fished for decades. The arrival of Tassal, a Canadian-owned seafood giant, on the remote and rugged Kimberley coastline has sparked concerns among locals like Mr. Foley, who never anticipated a company of this scale operating in their area. Tassal's acquisition of Marine Produce Australia (MPA) and Cone Bay Barramundi has raised eyebrows, particularly due to past environmental controversies involving Tassal's operations in Tasmania.
The Kimberley Aquaculture Development Zone, where Tassal is setting its sights, provides a unique setting for commercial aquaculture operations with streamlined approval processes in place. Despite Tassal's reassurances through its general manager for corporate affairs, Tom Middleton, some, like Wayne Foley, remain wary given Tassal's history and the potential environmental risks associated with large-scale aquaculture operations. The skepticism is further fueled by Tassal's plans to expand on the previously submitted fish farm expansion plans, sparking concerns about the company's intentions and transparency.
The concerns raised by locals and groups like Neighbours of Fish Farming, represented by Peter George, highlight a broader conversation around corporate responsibility, community engagement, and environmental stewardship. Tassal's entry into the Kimberley region brings to the forefront discussions about balancing economic development with environmental conservation in a delicate ecosystem like the Buccaneer Archipelago. The traditional owners of the land, represented by the Mayala Inninalang Aboriginal Corporation and the Kimberley Land Council, have chosen not to comment on Tassal's move, indicating a complex relationship between industry, community, and indigenous rights in this remote coastal region.