Pressure is mounting on the Tasmanian government to withdraw support for salmon companies using antibiotics to treat diseased fish, with warnings the practice threatens the state’s lucrative export industries.
It comes after salmon producer Tassal used the antibiotic florfenicol at five sites in recent days, despite the federal regulator considering suspending its use.
Independent Franklin MP Peter George said authorities had “washed their hands” of responsibility as antibiotic residue spreads into wild marine life.
“Their silence as antibiotic residue spreads into wild marine life, and the resulting threat to rock lobster and abalone exports, is shameful,” he said.
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff warned the government’s continued support for florfenicol use was “reckless” while it threatened wild abalone and rock lobster export markets.
“It sends a terrible signal to our export markets that they continue to allow the mass dumping of florfenicol in Tasmanian waters,” she said.
“The sensible response is to require salmon companies to destock fish from pens where there is disease.”
Florfenicol has been detected in wild abalone and rock lobsters more than 10 kilometres from salmon treatment sites.
A Tassal spokesperson defended the company’s actions, saying it was operating within current permits.
“Like all farmers, we rely on an expert veterinary team to manage the health of our stock and determine if and when treatments are required,” the spokesperson said.
“Tassal is operating fully within the current APVMA permit and notes that the review does not relate to any food safety or environmental concern.”
Tasmanian government minister Jo Palmer said the decision rested with federal regulators.
“The APVMA are the ones that are best placed to make this decision and so we await for their findings,” she said.
Palmer said the industry is vitally important to regional Tasmania, saying thousands of families depended on salmon farming for their livelihoods.
“This is their income, this is how they feed their families, this is how they live, work and play in Tasmania,” she said.
“We always want the salmon industry to be respectful of our waterways, to be respectful of our island.”
“We’ve never seen a time where they’ve been more transparent in the work that they do, the data that they have, which is really pleasing.”
