Publicised scrutiny and mediatised environmental conflict: the case of Tasmanian salmon aquaculture

This paper analyses mediatised environmental conflict over the Tasmanian salmon aquaculture industry's performance. It compares the Senate Inquiry into the “Regulation of the fin-fish aquaculture industry in Tasmania”, the influential Four Corners investigative journalism television program ‘Big Fish’ and news media coverage following each of these mediatised public investigations. The concept of “mediatised environmental conflict” is applied to reveal how these different modes of investigation influence public debate. Both the Senate Inquiry and the Four Corners program allowed previously invisible actors and networks to be made visible, while rendering others largely silent, particularly scientists despite strong references to science within the debate. Also, the traditional role of ENGOs in holding industries and Governments to account has shifted in this case to an industry player. Considerable differences in the discourses was observed, raising further questions concerning accountability and transparency in public-policy decision-making in relation to management of marine resources.