A recent revelation has sparked concerns about the use of antibiotics in Tasmania's freshwater hatcheries. Huon Aquaculture, a prominent salmon farming company, has confirmed the use of antibiotics at its Meadowbank hatchery on the River Derwent, raising questions about transparency and potential environmental impacts.
The company's decision to treat diseased salmon with oxytetracycline has brought attention to the lack of disclosure requirements for antibiotic use in freshwater facilities. This stands in contrast to the stricter rules governing the use of florfenicol in coastal marine fish farms.
But here's where it gets controversial... While Huon Aquaculture voluntarily disclosed the use of antibiotics to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), downstream users were not notified. The company's general manager, Depha Miedecke, explained that the medication was administered as a "last line of defence" due to an increase in mortality caused by an intestinal bacterial infection.
The Meadowbank hatchery, located within the Hobart water catchment area, is approximately 20 kilometres upstream from New Norfolk. Despite its proximity to the township, TasWater's Bryn Estyn water treatment plant is almost 40 kilometres downstream, which may have contributed to the decision not to notify downstream users.
And this is the part most people miss... The EPA has since put antibiotic residue monitoring in place at the Meadowbank Hatchery, and these regulatory requirements will now apply to all freshwater hatcheries across the state. This move aims to strengthen the EPA's regulatory framework and ensure greater transparency.
Independent upper house member Meg Webb has criticised the lack of transparency, stating that the public should not have to rely on voluntary disclosures from salmon companies. She emphasised the need for full transparency and expert assessment to build public confidence and a social licence for the industry.
In contrast, the industry has implemented "real-time updates" on its websites, listing when and where florfenicol is used in coastal salmon pens. This transparency measure was introduced after the mass mortality event early last year, where oxytetracycline was used but deemed largely ineffective.
The Greens have called for the government to mandate real-time disclosures for all antibiotic use in Tasmanian waters, arguing that the community should not be left in the dark about such practices. Health Minister Bridget Archer, however, maintains that antibiotic use is heavily regulated in Tasmania's agricultural and aquacultural industries, expressing no concerns about public health risks.
So, the question remains: Is the current level of regulation and transparency sufficient to address the potential risks associated with antibiotic use in aquaculture? Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
