The Tasmanian Government is implementing precautionary, science-based measures to protect the integrity of the State’s wild fisheries and maintain confidence in Tasmania’s seafood markets, following the regulated use of florfenicol in salmon aquaculture.
In November 2025, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) approved an emergency permit for salmon producers to use florfenicol. Veterinary science indicates florfenicol is effective in combating P. salmonis.
P. salmonis is a marine bacterium that causes disease in salmon. Global evidence confirms it is a major contributor to high mortality rates in salmon farming.
Florfenicol Impact Monitoring and Research
There are currently two separate, but complementary florfenicol antibiotic impact assessments underway.
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Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Environment Monitoring
The EPA is responsible for ensuring
monitoring of antibiotic residues in the environment is undertaken and to ensure that the use of antibiotics in finfish farming does not cause environmental harm. Information about the EPA’s Florfenicol Monitoring Program is available on the
EPA website.
The EPA has developed a Florfenicol Antibiotic Residue Monitoring Schedule that the salmon industry must comply with. The Schedule has been prepared through a review of scientific literature and with
support from Public Health Services. The monitoring schedule aims to collect data on the presence and breakdown of florfenicol antibiotic residues in sediments, water, and wild fish.
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Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) Market Impacts for Non Salmon Species
To ensure Tasmanian seafood continues to meet market requirements the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) has engaged with the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) to support impact assessments of florfenicol on non-salmon species. IMAS is undertaking sampling of wild fisheries species including rock lobster, abalone, sea urchins, mussels, and periwinkles near salmon leases that have recently been treated with florfenicol.
Interim Testing Results
IMAS have collected over 840 samples with 209 results pending.
165 samples have had positive detections at very low levels the furthest detection at Standaway Bay (approx. 10.6 kms from sites).
Positive detections have been found in parts of:
- Abalone (viscera and foot)
- Lobsters (hepatopancreas/tomalley)
- Bryozoans (pooled)
- Urchins (viscera)
- Whelk
We have not had any detections in lobster tails, oysters, mussels or periwinkles.
Detection levels
Laboratory results have identified trace amounts of florfenicol up to 0.06 mg/kg.
No detections have been reported (to date) in wild mussels, oysters, or rock lobster meat.
Further sampling and analysis are underway to determine spatial extent, duration and potential mechanisms of uptake for the species.
We are taking a precautionary approach consistent with fisheries management practice.
While the levels detected are extremely low, Tasmania’s seafood industries operate in highly regulated domestic and international markets. Our priority is to ensure that the product entering supply chains continues to meet all relevant standards.
This is why we have engaged independent scientific expertise and implemented targeted precautionary fisheries management measures, while further data is being gathered.
Public Health Context
Public health advice is available on the
Department of Health website. The trace levels of florfenicol detected to date do not pose a risk to human health from eating seafood.
Market Requirements
Markets (domestic and overseas) maintain extremely conservative or zero tolerance limits for florfenicol residues in non-salmon species. A temporary Australian maximum residue limit (MRL) is established for florfenicol in farmed salmon. However, for other wild fishery species, no MRL has been established, meaning no residues are permitted.
While the concentrations detected to date are extremely low and do not represent food safety concern, even trace detections may be inconsistent with market requirements.
To ensure Tasmanian seafood continues to meet all requirements and the highest possible standards, NRE Tas has implemented temporary closures of selected commercial wild fisheries in the areas around recently treated aquaculture leases. These measures are precautionary and will be reviewed as additional data becomes available.
The affected areas represent a limited proportion of statewide catch and production.
What is being done?
Further research is underway to determine the extent and duration of detectable residues and uptake pathways in wild fishery species to inform necessary management responses. Tasmania’s fisheries management framework is designed to respond promptly to emerging information and apply precautionary measures, where required.
Tasmanian seafood remains safe to consume and continues to meet applicable domestic and international regulatory standards. Further updates will be provided as findings become available.
More information on florfenicol can be found on the:
A live map of treatment locations is
available on LISTmap.
Jason Jacobi (Secretary),
Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania
Regulator Statement Issued 18 February 2026
Frequently asked questions
Why have the results of florfenicol testing on wild fish species been released by NRE Tas?
The Tasmanian government is committed to transparent reporting of scientific information related to the use of florfenicol in Tasmanian waterways and environment.
The EPA have already released their
preliminary analysis and now additional testing results of wild fish species (abalone; rock lobster; shellfish) have been obtained by NRE Tas through its research partner IMAS.
It is important to note that the NRE Tas results are solely to inform understanding of impact on market requirements, and these results are separate but complementary to the EPA testing.
Why is the government testing wild fish to inform market and trade requirements?
Protecting market access for Tasmanian seafood is a priority as it is a requirement of the emergency permit issued by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for the use of florfenicol.
It’s important to note that the NRE Tas testing is specific to wild fisheries uptake of florfenicol, which is necessary to inform fisheries management to protect trade and exports and to ensure product is eligible for sale within Australia.
The Department of Health has reviewed the preliminary testing results from EPA and NRE Tas and health advice remains unchanged. There are no reports of adverse human health effects from exposure to traces of florfenicol in meat or seafood. The Department of Health also notes that the use of florfenicol to treat salmon is unlikely to affect waters at locations frequently used for recreational purposes, such as swimming.
What are the preliminary testing results telling us?
Florfenicol has been detected in very small quantities in wild species, such as abalone and rock lobster, up to 10.6 km from the treatment sites. Detections are in the range of less than 0.01 and 0.06 milligrams per kilogram.
That is, for every kilogram of rock lobster or abalone, we are discovering traces of florfenicol at levels that are almost unable to be detected.
This is new information and it indicates that wild fish can take up florfenicol. We do not yet understand the uptake pathway.
How were the test sites selected?
Test sites were initially chosen in areas close to the leases. After these initial sites were tested and returned some positive samples, sites further away were tested to give a clearer picture of the extent that florfenicol can be found in the ocean environment.
Why are these results relevant to trade and market access?
Markets can have strict rules about traces of antibiotics in fish. Tasmanian commercial fisheries must comply with these rules to maintain access to these markets.
Domestically, all food sold in Australia and New Zealand must comply with
food standards. Food cannot be sold that contains non-permitted residues or residues above allowable limits. There are florfenicol Maximum Residue Limits for Atlantic salmon, but not for other fish. This means that any fish other than Atlantic salmon that is sold within Australia, or that is exported from Tasmania, must not contain any residue of florfenicol.
Farmed salmon treated with florfenicol cannot be harvested for human consumption in Australia until a certain period of time after treatment (the withholding period). This is usually 21 days, but it varies depending on water temperature.
What is the Tasmanian Government doing to stop the sale of wild caught fish with trace residues of florfenicol?
NRE Tas is working closely with wild fisheries industry representatives to temporarily close fisheries that could be affected and to provide advice to fishers and processors about how to minimise the risk.
Why doesn’t the Tasmanian government ban florfenicol use by the salmon industry?
The APVMA issued permit no. 96499 authorising the use of florfenicol on animal welfare grounds. State agencies, including NRE Tas and the EPA, do not have authority over the issuance of this permit.
Will the final results be released?
The government understands the importance of providing information to the community. The results of the testing program are still preliminary, and testing continues. The final results will be released when the research is complete and appropriately validated. Interim results were requested by and shared with the APVMA in mid-February 2026.
Why has the APVMA suspended the emergency permit allowing the use of florfenicol to treat salmon?
The APVMA has suspended the emergency permit for the use of florfenicol in salmon in Tasmania. More information is available on the
APVMA website. Further scientific work is currently underway and will continue to better understand residue pathways and market risks. This research will help inform any future regulatory considerations.
How is the government supporting commercial fishers?
Tasmania’s fisheries management framework is designed to respond promptly to emerging information and apply precautionary measures, where required. This includes regular peak body engagement, providing advice on operational matters, facilitating testing, and sharing testing results.
The best mitigation measure to protect licensed commercial fisheries has been to implement temporary closures in the areas around recently treated aquaculture leases. These closures (for rock lobster, sea urchins, abalone and periwinkles) have been made in consultation with peak bodies. These measures are precautionary and will be reviewed as additional data becomes available.
The affected areas represent a limited proportion of statewide catch and production.
The government will continue to work with IMAS to design testing and monitoring programs to address relevant risks.
Was the trade of wild fishery products stopped or suspended at any time?
No. At no time has the trade of wild fish species been suspended or stopped. Processors have continued to trade and sell to other countries prior to the permit being suspended. This trade will continue and has been able to go ahead due to the measures the Tasmanian government introduced to mitigate the risk to trade.
What other tools can the salmon industry use to manage the impacts of
P.salmonis on salmon health and welfare?
Antibiotics are only used as a last resort for bacterial disease control and fish welfare. Administration of florfenicol to salmon occurs only in cases of acute disease, where treatment is necessary on animal welfare grounds, this is controlled by the prescribing veterinarian.
The salmon industry explores a range of disease management options, including further and additional vaccine development, selective breeding of salmon, adjusting production strategies and improving fish health surveillance.
What the difference between the EPA monitoring program and the testing on wild fish species?
The testing of wild fish species is to investigate market impacts for non-salmon species (such as rock lobster and abalone) and some of their prey.