Lobster fishers rail against salmon industry's antibiotic plans

Tensions have escalated between Tasmania's salmon industry and the wild seafood sector over plans to close some fishing areas when antibiotics are used in salmon pens.

Salmon Tasmania has applied for an emergency permit to use florfenicol to treat farmed fish affected by a bacterial disease that caused mass mortalities in 2025.

A separate emergency permit issued late last year had to be revoked in March after traces of florfenicol were detected in wild seafood more than 10 kilometres away.

The new permit application includes a plan to shut wild fisheries for up to six weeks if they are located within the same zone as salmon pens treated with antibiotics.

The closures are designed to avoid trade bans being imposed by countries that have zero tolerance for antibiotics in rock lobster, abalone and other wild seafood.

Under the "Wild Fisheries Market Access Plan", Salmon Tasmania would also provide financial support to affected commercial fishers to ensure they were no worse off.

But lobster fisherman Bryce Way said he and others in his sector were opposed to any reduction in their access to fisheries.

"You've got this introduced species coming around wanting to shut our areas," Mr Way told ABC Mornings.

"And it's just not fair. It just makes no sense to us how they think it is right to do."

Once implemented, Mr Way said he doubted the closures would be limited to six weeks in future years.

"Where's it end?" he said.

"It's only four to six weeks now. What's next year, 12 weeks?"

Mr Way said he and others were willing to disrupt the salmon industry through large-scale protests.

"If the salmon industry thinks that five kayaks and one dinghy was disruptive, what do you think is going to happen when you get 150, 200 commercial boats?"

He said no amount of compensation would make up for losing access to fisheries.

"If you're accepting money, you're selling your soul," he said. "That's all you're doing.

"If you care about the industry, you shouldn't be accepting any dollar value to have an area closed."

Tasmanian Rock Lobster Council president Danny Fox said Mr Way's concerns were shared by many across the sector.

"They're not too happy, the fishermen," Mr Fox told the Country Hour.

"The sentiment's pretty poor."

He said there were no plans to "block" the salmon industry, but he would not rule out protests.

"Most fishermen are happy to see the salmon industry there, and it's just got to play by the rules, and they've got to stay in their own lane a little bit more."

'Very, very small part' of wild fisheries affected

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is expected to make a decision on Salmon Tasmania's emergency use permit later this month.

Salmon Tasmania chief executive John Whittington said, if approved, florfenicol would only be used in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel and Storm Bay when recommended by veterinarians.

"When you look at the areas that would be closed if we were using florfenicol … [it's] a very, very small part of their [wild] fishery," he told ABC Mornings.

Dr Whittington said Salmon Tasmania was in discussions with all trade-exposed fishing sectors about the proposed compensation plan.

These include the lobster, abalone, oyster and periwinkle and urchin sectors.

"What we're looking to do is work with the sectors to develop an industry support program that ensures that if there is any out-of-pocket cost as a result of a closure for florfenicol, those fishers are made good through the process."

Dr Whittington said the industry was also working on options to minimise the use of antibiotics, including a selective breeding program, vaccinations and improved feeds.

"Ideally, when those vaccines are fully efficacious, when the selective breeding program has really established itself, we will be managing this disease without the need for therapeutants."

A total of 5.4 tonnes of florfenicol was used last summer, during which about 9,000 tonnes of salmon still died.

Tasmania's health department has said there were no reports of adverse human health effects from eating seafood with florfenicol residues.

However, as a precaution, it has said people can avoid seafood caught within 3km of a treated salmon pen.

Pharmaceutical company Abbey Labs has applied to the regulator for a separate "minor use" permit to increase the dose rate and treatment regime of florfenicol.

It also wants to expand the geographical use of florfenicol to salmon pens at Oakhampton Bay, on the state's east coast.