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Is Tasmania's salmon industry willing to 'play by the rules'?

Is Tasmania's salmon industry willing to 'play by the rules'?

The salmon industry is "important to Tasmania", people are constantly reminded. But should it take precedence over other industries and people's enjoyment of their natural surroundings?

For years, Tasmania has marketed itself as "clean and green" — a state focused on purity and sustainability.

It's a state that embraces the philosophy of "better, not more".

These are not my thoughts; they're all black-and-white statements taken straight from the Tasmanian government's own website.

If they are, how could a government allow the state's reputation to be put at risk by one major producer at the expense of other industries and businesses, and indeed the public?

For another summer, Salmon Tasmania, the peak body representing the major farmed salmon producers in the state, is seeking to use large quantities of antibiotics to protect against bacterial outbreaks in its salmon.

These salmon aren't housed in carefully contained on-land enclosures.

They're held in dozens of large pens within public waterways that are also used by commercial and recreational fishers.

These waterways are used by humans, too — people swim and sail in these waters.

The state's health department is at pains to point out that there are "no reports of adverse human health effects" from eating seafood that has florfenicol residue.

And there is "no evidence of harm to human health" from exposure to the antibiotic while undertaking recreational swimming.

The salmon industry itself would also be quick to point out that the reason it wants to use antibiotics is…

In brief

For years, Tasmania has marketed itself as "clean and green" — a state focused on purity and sustainability. For another summer, Salmon Tasmania, the peak body representing the major farmed salmon producers in the state, is seeking to use large quantities of antibiotics to protect against bacterial outbreaks in its salmon. These salmon aren't housed in carefully contained on-land enclosures.

This is the opening of the story, shared with credit to ABC News Australia. The rest of the report — with every detail — continues on the publisher’s website.

Continue reading at ABC News Australia ↗

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