Regulator assessing new bids to use higher antibiotic doses in Tasmanian salmon farms

Federal regulators are reviewing a fresh push to allow higher doses of the antibiotic florfenicol in Tasmanian salmon farms following a previous permit revocation. The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority is assessing an application from Abbey Animal Health to use the drug in both south-eastern and eastern biosecurity zones with increased dose rates. A separate emergency use application has also been sought by Salmon Tasmania with previous treatment parameters.

Background

Florfenicol was initially approved under an emergency permit last November to combat a bacterial disease that killed 15,000 tonnes of salmon in early 2025. That permit was revoked in March after drug traces turned up in wild fish up to 10 kilometres away and in abalone up to 14 kilometres away. Last summer's usage reached 5.4 tonnes while roughly 9,000 tonnes of salmon died, forcing the temporary closure of rock lobster and abalone fisheries to protect international exports.

Reaction

Fishing groups including the Tasmanian Rock Lobster Council, Abalone Council, and Commercial Divers Association warned in July that higher doses would increase environmental risks. Greens senator Vanessa Bleyer urged the APVMA to reject both applications over fears of antibiotic resistance and threats to wild fisheries. Tasmania's Health Department reported no human health impacts from the residues, though it advised avoiding seafood caught within three kilometres of treated pens as a precaution.

Context

Aquaculture operations often face disease outbreaks when large numbers of fish are kept close together in marine pens. Regulators must weigh the urgent need to treat fish disease against the potential risk of chemicals spreading into surrounding wild marine ecosystems and commercial fisheries.