EPA clashes with Greens on need for real-time tracking of salmon antibiotic use

The director of Tasmania's environmental watchdog has refused to collect real-time information on antibiotic use by salmon farms, leading to a heated exchange with Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff. During budget estimates hearings, EPA director Catherine Murdoch accused Dr. Woodruff of attacking her integrity and questioned the legality and potential accuracy of collecting such data.

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an attack on my integrity

This dispute arises after Tasmania's salmon industry received an emergency permit in November to use the antibiotic florfenicol to combat a bacterial outbreak causing significant salmon deaths. Florfenicol, typically used in land-based farming, was applied in Australian waters for the first time. The total amount used during this period has not yet been publicly disclosed.

The emergency permit was revoked in March due to concerns about the antibiotic spreading to wild fish, with evidence of its presence found up to 14 kilometers away. The EPA is not required to report the total amount of florfenicol used until three months after the treatment concludes. Meanwhile, the industry has indicated its intention to seek a new permit for florfenicol use.

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Tasmanians with an absence of information don't know what to read and they read a whole range of confusing and sometimes incorrect things. So surely we want to prevent this happening by treating people with the respect that they deserve

Dr. Woodruff argued that salmon companies already provide real-time information on feed containing florfenicol to other regulatory bodies like the APVMA and Biosecurity Tasmania. She questioned why the EPA lacked this data, asserting that Tasmanians deserve transparency and accurate information to prevent confusion. Ms. Murdoch countered that her decisions are science-based and that accusations of lacking transparency were an attack on her integrity, stating the EPA's antibiotic monitoring regime adheres to the "best standards."

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To put on the record that I don't support transparency, I'm sorry, that is an attack on my integrity and I don't think it is appropriate for that to be stated to me at this table

Records show at least 3,610 kilograms of florfenicol were used at five salmon farms in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel over the summer. However, the volume used at four other sites remains unreported. The total amount used across all sites is expected to be substantial.

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Salmon companies] take bags of feed … that has been covered with florfenicol, and so they know how much has gone in