Abbey Labs seeks higher florfenicol dose for Tasmanian salmon farms

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Florfenicol dose for Tasmanian salmon

Highlights

Abbey Labs seeks APVMA approval to increase florfenicol dosing and extend its use from Tasmania’s south-eastern to eastern biosecurity zone, with rates under assessment.
Previous florfenicol use in late 2024 and early 2025 resulted in 15,000 tonnes salmon deaths, forced fishery closures, and detection of residues up to 14 km from treatment sites.
Export-facing industry groups warn increased florfenicol dosing could widen environmental impact, as 5.4 tonnes used last summer contributed to about 9,000 tonnes salmon deaths and ongoing closure risks.

Regulator reviews broader antibiotic proposal

As reported by ABC News, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority is assessing an application from Abbey Animal Health, known as Abbey Labs, to raise the dose rate of florfenicol for salmon farms in Tasmania and extend its use beyond the south-eastern biosecurity zone to the eastern biosecurity zone as well.

APVMA chief executive Scott Hansen told a Senate estimates hearing earlier this week that the company has lodged a second application as a minor use permit. He said the proposal seeks both a wider treatment area and an increase in the dose rates and treatment regime, while the regulator does not disclose the proposed new rates because they remain under assessment.

Hansen also said Salmon Tasmania has separately applied for another emergency use permit using the same dose rates and treatment frequency as its previously revoked approval. That earlier permit allowed 10 to 20 milligrams per kilogram of fish per day for 10 consecutive days, with no re-treatment permitted.

Florfenicol was first used in Tasmania's south-eastern waters in November last year after an emergency permit was approved in response to a bacterial disease outbreak. The disease led to the deaths of 15,000 tonnes of salmon in early 2025 and fish parts washing up on beaches.

In March this year, the APVMA revoked the emergency permit, citing an unacceptable risk of residue exposure to non-target species. The decision followed the detection of florfenicol in wild fish species up to 10 kilometres from the nearest treated salmon pen, and the antibiotic was later found in abalone up to 14 kilometres away.

Fishery and export risks remain in focus

The previous use of florfenicol last summer forced the closure of some rock lobster and abalone fisheries because detections risked triggering international export bans. Industry groups, including the Tasmanian Rock Lobster Council, Abalone Council and Commercial Divers Association, have warned that a resumption of antibiotic use could bring further closures.

In a July newsletter, those groups said increasing dosage rates and treatment duration would raise both the likelihood and extent of environmental exposure. In June, it also emerged that 5.4 tonnes of the antibiotic had been used last summer, a period in which about 9,000 tonnes of salmon died.

Tasmania's Health Department says there are no reports of adverse human health effects from eating seafood containing florfenicol residues. As a precaution, it says people can avoid seafood caught within 3 kilometres of a treated salmon pen.

Earlier this month, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment released a plan aimed at reducing the risk of antibiotics entering wild fisheries. The plan sets out multiple zones under which rock lobster and abalone fisheries would close for at least six weeks if an antibiotic is administered, and Hansen says the framework will form part of the APVMA's assessment of Salmon Tasmania's emergency permit application.

Greens senator Vanessa Bleyer is calling for the APVMA to reject both florfenicol applications, arguing that broader use at higher dosages could again threaten exports and worsen antibiotic resistance concerns. Salmon Tasmania chief executive John Whittington says florfenicol remains one element of a broader fish health strategy and provides veterinarians with an important treatment option when extra support is needed to protect fish welfare.

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