Question Time 06/03/26: Salmon Industry & Antibiotics
Salmon Industry - Antibiotic Use Reporting
Ms BURNET question to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRIES and WATER, Mr PEARCE, referred to MINISTER for ENVIRONMENT, Ms OGILVIE
The salmon biosecurity program introduced in 2023 requires salmon hatcheries to ensure that levels of antibiotics or chemical residues present within or outside a freshwater facility do not exceed any level specified in the producer's fish farming licence. I was shocked, like many others, to learn that up until last month there were no acceptable antibiotic levels stipulated in their licences, and there was no regulatory requirement for hatcheries to notify the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) of antibiotic use in our freshwater environment. If salmon hatcheries were not required to report antibiotic use or test for antibiotic residues such as oxytetracycline in their outflows until last month, how do we know antibiotic residues from hatcheries haven't been entering our rivers for years?
Mr PEARCE - Honourable Speaker, with respect, the question went to environmental monitoring and residual levels in waterways, and I would say that's with the minister for the environment and not myself.
The SPEAKER - Minister for the Environment, I think the honourable Minister for Primary Industries and Water has referred the question to yourself.
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, it was a very swift pass, thank you very much. I am very aware, of course, that when it comes to salmon, the use of florfenicol in our waterways is something that sits across a range of portfolios. As the Minister for Environment, I have steerage of the EPA. It's something that we take very seriously, to maintain the independence of the EPA, and particularly when it comes to the regulation of florfenicol, which does not sit under the EPA, but our monitoring and management and reporting of the use of that, we take that very seriously.
I think that probably gets to the question that you've asked. If there is further information that you want, I would be very happy to take that on notice, as I always am, but again, I do recognise it is an issue that sits across a range of portfolios.
Supplementary Question
Ms BURNET - Supplementary and point of explanation, if I may, Speaker?
The SPEAKER - I will hear the supplementary question.
Ms BURNET - We're talking about freshwater hatcheries and the question is: how do we know antibiotic residues such as oxytetracycline from hatcheries haven't been entering our rivers for years? If you are going to take that on notice, when are you likely to give an answer back on that?
Ms OGILVIE - Yes, precisely. The monitoring and management of our waterways and that testing is something that the EPA does, I will need to take that on notice. I'm not sure how easy that information is to get, but if it's able to be achieved this morning, today, I will bring that back into the chamber.
Ms Burnet - It's going into our drinking water, minister.
The SPEAKER - Order. The minister has the call.
Ms OGILVIE - I'm trying to assist. If I'm able to get that very quickly for you, I will be happy to bring it back in here and update the Chamber, but if there's some complexity to it, then obviously we will come back to you.
Answer provided later:
Ms OGILVIE (Clark - Minister for Environment) - Honourable Speaker, I have some additional information for Ms Burnet. I was able to get that, so bear with me and if it doesn't give you everything you need, we can have another conversation. As I said, independent EPA, the EPA does not approve the use of antibiotics in freshwater or marine environments and - as we've mentioned - antibiotic approval and use sits with the APVMA - but the EPA does regulate environmental outputs and they issue directions or enforcement action to operators where required. Huon Aquaculture self-reported the use of OTC at Meadowbank Hatchery. The EPA immediately required a detailed residue monitoring program and issued a formal direction restricting sludge removal without EPA approval. Monitoring includes baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment and ongoing weekly sampling at the outflow point, upstream intake and multiple downstream locations. Monitoring will continue until two consecutive results are below the monitoring threshold. The EPA will publish verified monitoring results on its website once the program is completed. TasWater has advised that its treatment processes at Bryn Eston, combined with distance and dilution factors in the river Derwent, remove any risk to treated drinking water. The Director of Public Health has determined there was no risk to human health from the limited antibiotic use. I'm also advised the EPA intends to vary all inland fish farm environmental licenses by the end of March 2026 to require prior notification of antibiotic use and corresponding mandatory residue monitoring and reporting subject to statutory notification and appeal processes. This sits within our government's broader environmental reform program. I can also specifically say, in relation to Meadowbank Hatchery, it is a flow-through freshwater facility downstream of Meadowbank Dam on the river Derwent, and I am advised wastewater is screened via filtration system, it enters a settlement pond then flows through to constructed wetland prior to discharge to the river. As I said, they have self-reported. In relation to monitoring, the locations are the outflow point upstream intake water, that's baseline, river Derwent at 200 metres and five kilometres downstream, wild fish sampling up to one kilometre downstream. The dates of sampling 21 January, which was baseline, 27 January, which was mid-treatment, 10 February, post-treatment, and 17 February. And it continues weekly until two consecutive results fall below the monitoring threshold. I'm aware it is a complex area across a range of portfolios. I'm here to help. If there's anything more you'd like, let me know.