A new vaccine that can combat the bacteria that has wreaked havoc in Tasmanian waterways, and killed millions of salmon, is further evidence approval of a harmful new antibiotic Florfenicol is not required.
The government has submitted a fast-track application to the APVMA to approve Florfenicol, arguing there is an “emergency” to justify this extreme action.
However, Huon Aquaculture CEO today again denied there has been any disease emergency in recent months. This is directly counter to claims Government at a briefing on August 15.
The announcement today of a new effective vaccine to inoculate salmon is a further reason that an emergency permit to use the unregulated and untested antibiotic Florfenicol is totally unnecessary.
World’s best practice would put the marine environment before company profits when responding to disease outbreak. This means destocking sea cages with disease before any other intervention such as use of antibiotics.
Heavy use of antibiotics is widely recognised as a ticking time bomb for animal and human health globally via the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The Government, through the Chief Veterinary Officer, must immediately withdraw their support for the emergency permit application of Florfenicol, and alter marine farming licenses to reduce the number of fish allowable in sea cages.
A fact sheet developed by Neighbours of Fish Farming can be found here.
