Huon Aquaculture to medicate fish with antibiotics in Storm Bay

by TARFish 31 Mar 2025 06:21 UTC

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Huon Aquaculture have advised that today they began medicating fish with antibiotics to treat Piscirickettsia salmonis (P. salmosis) in two pens in Storm Bay.

The salmon industry has responded to our request to be notified about antibiotic use in real time so that fishers can make informed choices about their fishing.

We have previously been advised by the Director of the EPA that the risk to people from consuming fish around the salmon pens is believed to be low. A Link to the FASANZ Risk Assessment for Oxytetracycline can be found here

A more detailed information sheet from the Government's Chief Veterinary Officer regarding P. salmonis can be found here and the key points are these:
- P. salmonis is not known at present to be a risk to native Tasmanian marine species.
- P. salmonis is a fish pathogen and does not cause human or terrestrial animal disease, or any food safety risk.

So the message is - you can keep fishing and eating your catch but it is your choice and if you have concerns about your specific circumstances, speak with your GP beforehand.