Why are some commercial fisheries closed but recreational fishing is not closed?
There is no evidence of adverse human health effects from exposure to traces of florfenicol in meat or fish. As such, there is no closure of recreational fisheries related to florfenicol use.
Some commercial fisheries are closed to manage market access risks. Overseas markets can have strict rules about traces of antibiotics in fish. Tasmanian commercial fisheries must comply with these rules to maintain access to these markets.
As a precaution to ensure market access, NRE Tas has temporarily closed some areas of commercial fisheries near treated pens. This will allow testing to confirm fish from these areas comply with export market rules.
See Who regulates and monitors florfenicol use? for more information.
Is farmed salmon treated with florfenicol safe to eat?
Yes. Salmon harvested for human consumption must meet all standard food safety requirements.
How do we know farmed salmon treated with florfenicol is safe to eat?
Salmon producers are legally required to ensure their fish comply with national food standards, including the Australian and New Zealand Food Standards Code.
Farmed salmon treated with florfenicol cannot be harvested for human consumption in Australia until a certain period of time after treatment (the withholding period). This is usually 21 days, but it varies depending on water temperature.
The withholding period allows the depletion of antibiotic residues in the fish. This mitigates the risk of residues being present in salmon when it’s sold.
NRE Tas will audit salmon companies to ensure the correct withholding period is met.
In addition, the Australian Government regulates the production and export of fish and fish products. Commonwealth law requirements mandate that fish treated with antibiotics must be withheld for a certain period before they can be harvested for export.
What risks will there be to our waterways from the use of florfenicol?
The EPA requires salmon producers to undertake environmental monitoring in accordance with a new Florfenicol Antibiotic Residue Monitoring Schedule. This will generate data on florfenicol residues in water, sediments and wild fish which will inform future environmental risk assessments and future public health advice relating to the use of florfenicol in Tasmania.
Who regulates and monitors florfenicol use?
Approval for use
Notification of use
Before florfenicol treatment begins, salmon farming companies must notify:
- Environment Protection Authority (EPA)
- Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) - Biosecurity Tasmania.
Treatment details are then:
Food safety – Wild caught fish
- Public Health Services in the Department of Health provides advice to recreational fishers about eating fish caught near treated pens.
- The EPA conducts environmental monitoring to measure florfenicol levels in wild fish. This data informs future public health advice.
For more details, visit the Tasmanian Department of Health website.
International market access – commercial fisheries
NRE Tas manages commercial fisheries to reduce risk to market access.
- Overseas markets can have strict rules about traces of antibiotics in fish. Tasmanian commercial fisheries must comply with these rules to maintain access to these markets.
- As a precaution to ensure market access, NRE Tas has temporarily closed some areas of commercial fisheries near treated pens.
- These closures were implemented in consultation with relevant representative bodies.
- The closures will allow testing to confirm fish from these areas comply with export market rules.
- Commercial fisheries with small area closures near treated pens include:
- Rock lobster, and
- Commercial dive (periwinkles and urchins).
- Abalone
The commercial scalefish fishery remains open.
For more information, visit:
• Rock lobster catch updates
• Commercial dive – Catch and closures
• Abalone closures
Food Safety – Aquaculture harvest
- Biosecurity Tasmania (NRE Tas) ensures farmed salmon meet food safety standards before harvest. This is managed through the florfenicol Compliance Audit Schedule.
- A summary of audit outcomes will be published by Biosecurity Tasmania.
For more information, see the Regulator Notice: Antibiotic Treatment – Administration of Florfenicol.
Antibiotic residue monitoring
The EPA oversees monitoring of antibiotic residues to prevent environmental harm.
- A Florfenicol Antibiotic Residue Monitoring Schedule is in place, and extensive monitoring of water, sediments and wild fish is underway.
- EPA will monitor florfenicol residues in before, during and after treatment.
- Data will inform environmental risk assessments and public health advice.
- The Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) is conducting additional sampling to assess changes in sediment microbial communities.
For more information, see the Regulator Notice: Antibiotic Treatment – Administration of Florfenicol.