Salmon farm seeks higher-dose antibiotic after permit revoked for contamination
A company wants to use higher doses of an antibiotic on Tasmanian salmon farms despite traces being found in wild fish.
A permit for using the antibiotic florfenicol was stopped in March. The drug was found in wild fish several kilometres away.
Now a company wants to use higher doses and expand the treatment zone. An emergency permit was approved in November 2024.
A disease had killed 15,000 tonnes of farmed salmon. The permit was stopped over worries about contamination in wild species.
Traces turned up in wild fish up to 10km away. The antibiotic was also found in abalone 14km from the nearest treated pen.
Some rock lobster and abalone fisheries had to close. This was because of export concerns.
Regulators must check if larger doses pose an even greater risk to wild fisheries.
- 15,000 tonnes
- Salmon deaths
- 10 kilometres from pens
- Drug spread
- Abbey Labs
- Applicant company
- March 2025
- Permit revoked
Why it mattersIf approved, the new permit could lead to wider closures of wild-catch fisheries. This could threaten exports worth millions.
AustraliaTasmanian rock lobster and abalone industries face possible fishery closures and international export bans if the higher-dose antibiotic contaminates wild species again.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
