New EPA data, recording more than 9,000 tonnes of farmed salmon mortalities in the first three months of this year, demonstrates florfenicol use is not the answer to preventing disease outbreaks in this industry.
In an attempt to justify the emergency use of florfenicol last year, the Liberals and salmon industry claimed the antibiotic would put an end to massive fish die offs. Despite the intensive use of the antibiotic in marine waters – as well as the recent cooler summer compared to 2025 – this did not happen.
The salmon industry’s big talk about the success of florfenicol is at odds with reality. As well as the evidence that salmon die offs have continued at a high level, florfenicol has also threatened the viability of wild caught fisheries’ exports.
So much for the “desired result” the industry was celebrating in December.
The EPA data demonstrates there is no silver bullet for the major problems facing the fish farm industry. Climate warming waters, along with the permanent presence of a salmon-killing bacteria, is the reality within which the Rockliff Government must now regulate these corporations.
Given all the problems we’ve seen with florfenicol use, the Government needs to rule out supporting the salmon industry’s push to use this antibiotic again. Instead, companies should at minimum be required to reduce fish density levels in their pens, and to remove diseased fish.
Much more transparency from the government and industry is needed.
Tasmanians still haven’t been told how much florfenicol was used by the salmon industry between last November and when the federal regulator withdrew its permit, or where the farm mortalities have been occurring. The fact this information is still hidden speaks volumes about the special protections the Liberals give to salmon corporations to prevent their operations being known to Tasmanians and consumers.
