The Greens are calling for federal regulators to block salmon companies from using the broad-spectrum antibiotic florfenicol, after plans to use it in larger quantities were revealed.
After questioning by Senator Vanessa Bleyer, the Australian Pesticides And Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) confirmed during a Senate Estimates hearing that it was assessing two applications to use the antibiotic in Tasmania.
One was an emergency use permit from Salmon Tasmania, the other a minor use permit by pharmaceutical company Abbey Labs which included a request to increase the dose rate of the antibiotic.
The salmon industry previously used 5.4 tonnes of the antibiotic, which was then found in rock lobster and abalone in wild fisheries which jeopardised exports.
Health bodies have also warned using the antibiotic has the potential to increase the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Increasing the dose rate will only increase the risks that come with using florfenicol.
As stated by Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans and Senator for Lutruwita/Tasmania, Vanessa Bleyer:
"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.
"Despite being labelled by the APVMA as a "minor use" permit, the risks are anything but that.
"Between this attempt to drug fish in cages to the gills, and ongoing efforts to suffocate the Maugean skate in Macquarie Harbour, it is clear these multinational salmon companies are concerned about nothing more than their corporate profits.
"The APVMA needs to reject all applications to use florfenicol by the Tasmanian salmon industry."
