Arabic version: مختبرات آبي تسعى لزيادة جرعة مضاد حيوي للسلمون

According to ABC News, animal health company Abbey Animal Health, known as Abbey Labs, has applied to increase the dose rate and treatment regime for the antibiotic florfenicol at Tasmanian salmon farms. The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority is assessing the minor-use permit application, which would also expand potential use from the south-eastern biosecurity zone to the eastern biosecurity zone.

APVMA chief executive Scott Hansen disclosed the application during a Senate estimates hearing. He said the regulator was examining environmental effects, possible microbial resistance, residues and depletion. The authority did not disclose the proposed new dose rates because the application remains under assessment.

Florfenicol was first used in Tasmania’s south-eastern waters in November last year under an emergency permit, following a bacterial disease outbreak that caused 15,000 tonnes of salmon deaths in early 2025. In March, the APVMA revoked that permit after finding an unacceptable risk of residue exposure to non-target species. Traces were detected in wild fish up to 10 kilometres from the nearest treated salmon pen, while florfenicol was later found in abalone up to 14 kilometres away.

Salmon Tasmania has separately applied for an emergency-use permit using the same dose rates and treatment frequency as the revoked approval, which allowed 10 to 20 milligrams per kilogram of fish daily for 10 consecutive days without re-treatment. Greens senator Vanessa Bleyer called for both applications to be rejected. Salmon Tasmania chief executive John Whittington said florfenicol was part of a broader fish-health strategy and was tightly regulated. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment has released a plan under which rock lobster and abalone fisheries would close for at least six weeks in designated zones if an antibiotic is administered.