Tasmanian Atlantic salmon vs imported Norwegian and Chilean salmon — freshness, antibiotic use, and supply chain.
How Atlantic Salmon compares to imported equivalents on key nutrients.
Norwegian and Chilean salmon is cheaper because of vast scale, lower energy costs and intensive sea-cage farming with established global feed supply chains. Tasmanian product is priced for fresher, shorter chain and stricter biosecurity.
kg CO₂e per kg edible (mostly air-freighted from Europe/Chile)
Source: ICCT air-freight emissions
Australian FTE jobs supported per tonne sold
days harvest-to-retail
Tasmanian product is usually flown fresh nationally; imports often frozen or arrive 14+ days post-harvest.
Methodology: Carbon estimates assume sea-freight from Norway and air-freight from Chile blended; actual route shares change with seasons and tariffs.
Australia: ASC, RSPCA Approved options; ongoing public scrutiny in Macquarie Harbour
Imported: ASC available; sea-lice and density issues persist in major export regions
Australia: Low under AFNS
Imported: Low for whole salmon; higher for smoked/value-added products
Australia: Pen-to-plate batch tracking
Imported: Variable; tracked to importer not always to farm
Tasmanian salmon is the freshest, lowest-air-miles option for Australian buyers and supports a $1B+ regional economy. Imports are cheaper but slower and rarely fresh.