The Liberal Government are refusing to withdraw support for the salmon industry’s use of florfenicol, despite the APVMA’s move to suspend the permit for use in Tasmania. It’s reckless of the Liberals to continue supporting salmon companies’ use of large amounts of florfenicol, while that threatens our wild abalone and rock lobster export markets.
The Rockliff Government supported the salmon industry’s intention to use florfenicol months before an emergency application was made to the APVMA, and despite the stated concerns of local communities and wild fish industries. The government ultimately supported the application, but did no formal consultation about impacts on other industries and the marine environment.
When it became clear the salmon industry’s use of florfenicol would require shutting down parts of the rock lobster industry to protect export markets, the Liberals did nothing. And when florfenicol was recently detected in wild abalone and rock lobsters more than ten kilometres from salmon treatment sites, the Liberals took no action.
The Rockliff Government is continuing to back the salmon industry, even as the APVMA is moving to suspend the salmon industry’s permit to use florfenicol. It’s a statement that shows they prioritise the interests of multinational salmon corporations over wild caught fishing industries.
With just one week before the permit to use florfenicol in Tasmania could be suspended, salmon companies are rushing to dose diseased fish. Yesterday, Tassal started treatments at five leases on the same day, which is unprecedented.
Jeremy Rockliff needs to act and put Tasmanian waterways and wild catch fishing industries first. It sends a terrible signal to our export markets that they continue to allow the mass dumping of florfenicol in Tasmanian waters. The sensible response is to require salmon companies to destock fish from pens where there is disease.
