Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 5 hrs ago
Company seeks higher antibiotic doses for Tasmanian salmon farms
Abbey Animal Health has applied to use more florfenicol on salmon farms in Tasmania, including in eastern waters.
The antibiotic was used last summer to treat a bacterial disease that killed thousands of tonnes of farmed salmon.
The regulator revoked an earlier permit in March after residues were found in wild fish and abalone several kilometres from treated salmon pens.
Abbey’s new application seeks higher doses and a longer treatment regime, but the proposed details have not been disclosed.
The regulator is assessing environmental and resistance risks, as well as how long residues remain in the environment.
Seafood industry groups warn that renewed use could threaten fisheries and export markets, and some rock lobster and abalone fisheries closed during last summer’s use.
The applications remain under review, and Tasmania’s Health Department has said there have been no reports of adverse health effects from eating seafood with florfenicol residues.
Abbey Animal Health has applied to raise the dose of florfenicol used on Tasmanian salmon farms and expand its use to another biosecurity zone.
The Australian regulator is assessing the application, including its environmental effects, possible microbial resistance and residues.
A previous emergency permit was revoked after antibiotic traces were detected in wild fish and abalone near treated salmon pens.
Fishing groups have warned that renewed use could threaten fisheries and seafood markets.
- Who
- Abbey Animal Health, also known as Abbey Labs, has applied to use higher doses of florfenicol. The APVMA is assessing the application.
- What
- The application seeks higher dose rates and a different treatment regime, as well as use in an additional biosecurity zone.
- When
- The application was discussed at a Senate estimates hearing earlier this week. The article was published on October 29, 2026.
- Where
- Salmon farms in Tasmania, with the proposed use extending from the south-eastern to the eastern biosecurity zone.
- Why
- Florfenicol is used to treat a bacterial disease affecting salmon. The article does not state why Abbey Labs seeks a higher dose.
Abbey Animal Health and Salmon Tasmania
Tasmanian Rock Lobster Council, Abalone Council and Commercial Divers Association
Use of florfenicol
Abbey Animal Health and Salmon Tasmania
Abbey Animal Health has applied to increase dose rates and treatment frequency, and Salmon Tasmania has separately sought an emergency permit.
Tasmanian Rock Lobster Council, Abalone Council and Commercial Divers Association
The groups warned that increased dosage and treatment duration could raise the likelihood and extent of environmental exposure.
Risks
Abbey Animal Health and Salmon Tasmania
The applications are under assessment; the article does not state the applicants' views on the risks.
Tasmanian Rock Lobster Council, Abalone Council and Commercial Divers Association
The groups said proposals create new, unknown risks to fisheries and seafood markets that cannot currently be quantified, planned for or effectively managed.
Florfenicol was first used in south-eastern Tasmanian waters after the APVMA approved an emergency permit.
The APVMA revoked the emergency permit, citing an unacceptable risk of residue exposure to non-target species.
APVMA chief executive Scott Hansen told a Senate estimates hearing that Abbey Animal Health had filed a second application seeking higher doses and use in another biosecurity zone.
- Applicant
- Abbey Animal Health, also known as Abbey Labs
- Proposed locations
- South-eastern and eastern Tasmanian biosecurity zones
- Previous permit dose
- 10 to 20 milligrams per kilogram of fish per day for 10 consecutive days
- Antibiotic used last summer
- 5.4 tonnes
- Salmon deaths last summer
- About 9,000 tonnes
- Residue detections
- Wild fish up to 10 kilometres and abalone up to 14 kilometres from treated salmon pens
What people are saying
There's a second application, which is a minor use permit
Increasing dosage rates and treatment duration will increase both the likelihood and extent of environmental exposure
The revelation that the salmon industry has applied to use florfenicol once again, across a much bigger area and at much higher dosages, is absolutely shocking