Media release – Neighbours of Fish Farming, 27 February 2024
Massive antibiotic dumps in public waters brings industrial salmon to the fore in election campaign
Tasmania’s major political parties must declare to voters whether they will continue to allow massive dumps of antibiotics by the salmon industry into public waters.
News that hundreds of kilos of antibiotics have again been dumped into diseased salmon cages, resulting in wildfish harbouring antibiotic residues almost five times the legal limit, make this a vital election issue.
“Tasmanians need to hear from candidates where salmon feedlots are located or planned whether they support such harmful salmon industry practices or whether they’ll act to protect the public and the state’s waterways,” says Peter George, president of NOFF.
“Yet again, a multinational salmon company is revealed to be furtively dumping hundreds of kilos of antibiotics into our public waters without warning and regardless of human or wildlife health.
“This includes some of the state’s most treasured waters including the Mercury Passage and off Bruny Island.
“The World Health Organisation has declared antibiotic use in animals and growing antibiotic resistance in humans, as one of the most pressing global health issues.
“NOFF challenges the Liberal and Labor parties to publicly declare they will crackdown on the multinationals that run the salmon industry and force them to abandon their reckless practices.
“Both major parties need to declare just how much the multinational salmon giants have poured into party coffers to buy such acquiescence to their unprincipled practices.”
NOFF is responding to the work of voluntary researchers who uncovered huge dumps of antibiotics into diseased salmon feedlots, resulting in residues in wild fish almost five times higher than permitted by Federal health regulations. The reports were first published in the Tasmanian Inquirer and later in The Guardian.
Media release – Tasmanian Alliance for Marine Protection, 27 February 2024
Only Federal intervention can stop the salmon industry dumps of antibiotics in Tasmanian waters
Regulatory body “captured” by the salmon industry
Action to halt the outrageous misuse of antibiotics in the Atlantic salmon industry in Tasmania must be implemented urgently.
Tasmania’s peak marine protection body, TAMP, says there’s now clear evidence that the multinational salmon companies have captured the Federal regulator of antibiotic use in animals.
“Federal fisheries minister, Senator Murray Watt, must step in immediately and crack down on – or eliminate entirely – the use of antibiotics by industrial salmon multinationals in Tasmanian public waterways,” says Peter George, TAMP spokesperson.
“The latest evidence of misuse of antibiotics in the salmon industry clearly points to the regulator doing the industry’s bidding.”
“Sanctioning the use of dangerous antibiotics to treat overcrowded, disease-ridden salmon feedlots shows how the industry has captured the regulator – exactly as law firm Clayton Utz warned last year in its damning review of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).”
TAMP’s call for Federal action follows news that antibiotic residues at almost five times the permitted levels have been found in wild fish near salmon feedlots of the biggest industrial salmon producer, Tassal.
“The regulator is allowing antibiotic residues in food that are double the European standard imposed because of growing human resistance to antibiotics, a major global health concern,” says Peter George.
“It makes a mockery of the industry’s hollow claims to be ‘world’s best practice’.
“Independent studies have already found one third of salmon sold in supermarkets is antibiotic resistant – but to discover wild fish that can be caught by unsuspecting fishers is way above permitted standards is yet one more salmon industry scandal.
“Senator Watt needs to step in and direct the APVMA to halt the dangerous misuse of antibiotics and show that he is prepared to ensure proper regulation of dangerous chemicals finding their way into human food.”
Media release – Friends of the Bays, 25 February 2024
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A recent email by Tasmanian Liberal senator Jonno Duniam aimed at local salmon activists, illustrates that there’s nothing like an election to drive politicians towards choreographing the truth.
Branding activists as ‘wanting to close the local salmon industry’ his email claims ‘The Coalition knows that a win for activist groups is a loss for Tassie workers. Once these jobs are gone, they’re gone for good.’
Mick Lawrence, President of the recently formed Clifton Beach community group Friends of the Bays, said ’Senator Duniam speaks with forked-tongue and needs to be outed. Why does the government constantly label us the bad guys? We aren’t the ones trashing the environment. Far from wanting to close the industry down, salmon activists have long advocated a land-based industry, based on community values not financial targets’.
His statement follows recent scathing revelations on the salmon industry by former Director of the EPA Alex Schapp, and Louise Cherrie, environmental consultant and former member of the EPA board. Both claiming that disregard of their warnings has lead to the current environmental crisis the industry finds itself in.
Increasing public dissatisfaction with the state of the Huon Estuary, D’Entrecasteaux Channel, Long Bay at Port Arthur, Okehampton Bay off Triabunna, Storm Bay and the current Maugean skate crisis at Macquarie Harbour has become a battle of differing values: foreign investors chasing increased turnover vs local stakeholders seeking environmental security.
‘Despite claiming world best practice, currently it’s quite the opposite.’ said Mr Lawrence. ‘Dumping tens of thousands of tonnes of fish effluent and micro plastics into our recreational waterways is nothing short of environmental vandalism. Our bays are the foundation of our lifestyle, they’re not septic tanks. We’re not against the industry, just the unsustainable way it’s currently practiced. We need to acknowledge that apart from looking after ourselves now, we’re also the custodians for future generations. If we destroy the environment, we’re just destroying the future.’
Mr Lawrence said ‘It’s time politicians recognised that not only are there more jobs in a land based industry, but the effluent can be converted into fertiliser, the fish are healthier, there’s no need for the use of antibiotics and the environment is given a chance to recover. It’s a win-win all round. The move to land based aquaculture is happening overseas, why not here?’
Media release – Marine Protection Tasmania, 26 February 2024
Antibiotics found in native fish near salmon farms after treatment with OTC (oxytetracycline)
Marine Protection Tasmania call on the state liberal and Labor parties to act on the amount of antibiotics used by the salmon industry in our waterways.
Some native fish samples were found to have antibiotics in their flesh months after treatment.
“Two reports in 2023 published by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) in January indicating Tassal show Tassal used 369.5 kg oxytetracycline OTC in 2023. There was no public notification when the antibiotics were used or when the monitoring reports were released,” Ms Neill said.
“Worse testing showed it was found in nearby native fish. This is unacceptable and we have a right to know,” she said.
“The Tasmanian State Liberal party promised after the release of the LegCo inquiry (2022) into this industry that there would be on time reporting. It has not improved.. This is not good enough. Community are still not being informed in a timely manner,” Ms Neill said.
The World Health Organisation has clearly described the concerns of over use of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance,” Ms Neill said
WHO has described this as “one of the biggest threats to global health”, and has recommended the vaccination of farmed animals as a strategy to reduce the overuse of antibiotics.
”So it is of concern that report found some samples in native fish were positive for the antibiotic months aBer its use. The EPA has a role to protect our environment. The EPA must be up to date with the long term issues and half life of OTC so why isn’t long term testing being conducted?” Ms Neill said.
“If the EPA can’t act to protect our environment then we call on the Australian Government to intervene,” Ms Neill said.
Marine Protection Tasmania call on Foods Standards Australia to review the allowable levels for use in veterinary treatments especially in marine environment’s and put a halt to this over use and reduce unnecessary public risk of exposure to antibiotics.
Reference to reports by EPA
1 https://epa.tas.gov.au/Documents/MF109 Antibiotics Residue Monitoring Report 2023.pdf
2 https://epa.tas.gov.au/Documents/MF236 Antibiotics Residue Monitoring Report 2023.PDF
World Health
1 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antibiotic-resistance
