Once again, the Rockliff Government is letting big salmon companies walk all over Tasmania’s wild-caught fisheries.
Rather than rein in the multinational salmon companies’ rampant use of antibiotics to treat fish disease outbreaks, the Government is instead opting to close down segments of our wild fisheries when antibiotics are used in factory salmon farms.
Concerningly, the Wild Fisheries Market Access Management Plan released today foreshadows that the salmon industry is intending to use both oxytetracycline and florfenicol this summer.
Since the emergency use permit for florfenicol was rescinded by the APVMA earlier this year due to the impacts on our wild-caught fisheries, it seems possible the salmon industry is planning on using this controversial antibiotic off-label.
Some companies are already taking the radical step of injecting salmon with oxytetracycline to stave off disease. With an El Niño on the way, it’s unbelievable the Government is not requiring salmon companies to change their management practices and avoid disease, and is instead paving the way for mass antibiotics to be dumped in Tasmanian waters this summer.
The message is clear: big salmon can do what they want, and our wild-caught fisheries sector must deal with the consequences.
