Newly released reporting statistics from the Tasmanian Government reveal that Huon Aquaculture, at just one lease, used almost 3 tons of Florfenicol in only 3 months. Such incredibly high quantities in one geographical area are a cause for grave concerns for the environmental state of the surrounding waters.

For comparison, the Norwegian factory salmon farms used 500kg of Florfenicol across all companies and leases in a period of 12months. Bob Brown Foundation is calling for the complete removal of fish farms from Tasmania’s waters.

“The use of almost 3 tons of antibiotics shows the absolute disregard the factory fish farms have for the marine environment and the animals that live there,” said Alistair Allan, Antarctic and Marine Campaigner at Bob Brown Foundation.

“To dump such incredibly high amounts of a controversial antibiotic in one small geographic area is an environmental crime and a complete scandal that it was allowed by Premier Rockliff and the Tasmanian government. The public will be rightly outraged that big polluting corporations are able to cause such contamination to the marine environment and not only get away with it, but have it endorsed by the Premier.”

“Even while dumping such insane amounts of antibiotics, over a million factory farmed fish suffered and died this summer. It’s time to get fish farms out now,” said Alistair Allan.

Released report: https://epa.tas.gov.au/Documents/Final%20Report%20-%20Therapeutant%20Residue%20Monitoring%20Program%20-%20MFL%20141%20South%20of%20Zuidpool%20Rock.pdf