Tasmania's environment department has announced the closure of commercial rock lobster and commercial dive fisheries in parts of the state's south-east.
The move is designed to reduce international trade risks linked to the use of the antibiotic oxytetracycline (OTC) in salmon farms in the area.
The salmon industry is seeking an emergency permit to use the antibiotic florfenicol in salmon pens in the state's south-east, which could trigger further closures.
Commercial rock lobster and dive fisheries in parts of Tasmania's south-east will stay closed for three months to "mitigate trade risks" linked to antibiotic use by the salmon industry.
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) has issued two notices declaring certain commercial areas closed from November 15 this year to February 14 next year.
The commercial taking of rock lobster and the setting of rock lobster pots will not be allowed within parts of the Southern Channel "Therapeutic Management Area" (TMA).
Commercial divers will not be allowed to take short-spined sea urchins, long-spined sea urchins and periwinkles in the Northern Channel TMA.
The notice for commercial divers says the closure is "part of the arrangements to mitigate trade risks associated with aquaculture therapeutant use."
NRE last month released its Wild Fisheries Market Access Plan ahead of the planned use of antibiotics to treat a bacterial disease that caused…
