Another disease outbreak at a salmon farm has sparked concern after, according to independent Franklin MP Peter George, reports the standard antibiotic treatment appears to be failing.
The outbreak of Piscirickettsia salmonis – the same bacterial disease that caused fish chunks to wash up on southern beaches over summer – has been confirmed at an aquaculture pen near Roaring Beach, George said.
“[Premier] Jeremy [Rockliff] rang me last night and said he’d had a high-level briefing,” George said on ABC Radio a short time ago.
“There is a disease outbreak in the Huon River.”
George said oxytetracycline, the standard antibiotic used to treat the infection, may not be working in this case.
He said local residents have reported increased boat and truck activity in the area, suggesting a significant response effort is underway.
George acknowledged limited details were available but said he would receive a full departmental briefing at 9am.
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said she was also being briefed.
“We’ve got a marine environment on the point of crisis and we’re going to be hearing about a salmon outbreak today,” she said.
“I’m getting a briefing this morning about a serious disease outbreak in salmon.”
The number of fish or pens affected is still unknown, with authorities yet to release official details about the scale of the outbreak.
The state government has been contacted for comment.
