Tassal has expanded the use of the antibiotic florfenicol to their salmon pens at Roaring Beach, according to the EPA. However, salmon companies and the EPA are refusing to tell Tasmanians the total amount of florfenicol that has been released into marine waterways so far.
In Estimates last November, the Greens confirmed that 700kg of florfenicol had, by then, been dumped into the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. Just one treatment was complete at this time, with another underway.
In the three months’ since salmon farming companies have continued to dump florfenicol into southern Tasmanian waters almost constantly. Eleven more treatments have taken place, with another underway at Roaring Beach.
How many tonnes of florfenicol have entered marine waters so far? Tasmanians have a right to know how salmon farming companies are altering their local waterways.
Today NWTAS for Clean Oceans are in court, challenging Federal Environment Minister Watts’ decision to allow fish farming to continue in Macquarie Harbour. It shows Tasmanians won’t sit quietly while governments allow salmon farming companies to trash the environment. We stand with them.
After the mass salmon deaths and pollution of marine waters last summer, Premier Rockliff said he’d put the salmon industry “on notice”. It’s time he made good on that promise to Tasmanians, and ensure his government makes public the total amount of florfenicol used so far.
The EPA should require ongoing, real-time disclosure by salmon companies of their antibiotic use in marine and freshwater environments.
