Antibiotic name and dosing period
Florfenicol 100% Active. Two 10-day treatments under three Veterinary Authorities, with the first treatment starting on 5 December 2025 and the final treatment finishing on 13 January 2026.
Summary of sampling rounds undertaken
The original monitoring schedule required that water, seabed sediment and wild fish samples were collected immediately after treatment (day 1 post-treatment, day 7 post-treatment, day 14 post-treatment, day 21 post-treatment).
An Addendum to the Monitoring Schedule was issued due to the receipt of additional Veterinary Authorities for this lease. The Addendum required that these samples be collected weekly until all treatments on the lease had finished and two consecutive results below the limit of reporting were received and the Director had authorised that sampling be stopped.
Samples were collected at sites both inside the lease (pen bays and centroids) and outside the lease, including compliance sites, transect sites, and reference sites.
In total, 420 individual wild fish samples were caught and analysed across 3 zones (within 1 km, between 1-3 km and greater than 3 km) from the lease boundaries. The 420 wild fish samples included 3 benthic and pelagic species, being sand flathead, blue-throated wrasse, and Australian salmon. Sand flathead was by far the most commonly captured species.
In total, 100 sediment samples and 210 water samples were collected and analysed at multiple distances from the pen bays and including reference sites up to approximately 6.3 km from the lease boundary.
Assessment of compliance against the schedule issued by the EPA
The report is compliant with the requirements of the Therapeutant Residue Monitoring Schedule – MFL 110 -Soldiers Point – December 2025, the ADDENDUM - Therapeutant Residue Monitoring Schedule – MFL 110 – Soldiers Point – January 2026, and section 28(2) of the Environmental Standards for Tasmanian Marine Finfish Farming 2023.
Summary of findings in report
The results outlined in this report align with the EPA's Preliminary analysis of environmental samples for florfenicol in southern Tasmania with negligible detections of florfenicol in seabed sediments and rapid depletion of the low level detections in the water column in the days after treatment.
EPA's assessment of potential environmental impacts
The EPA has completed a significant body of work to establish a guideline value for ecotoxicity of florfenicol in aquatic environments and has reviewed all of the water and sediment data collected under florfenicol residue monitoring schedules against this guideline value. The EPA has found that florfenicol residues present low risks to aquatic ecosystems. For further information, including a detailed scientific report, please see Environmental risk assessment of florfenicol use in marine salmonid aquaculture in SE Tasmania 2025 – 2026.
Statement from the Director of Public Health
Public Health Services notes the reports of florfenicol residue detected in 11 of 132 individual wild finfish samples (11 sand flathead) caught within 1 km of a treated lease. Eating typical amounts of these wild finfish does not pose a risk to health.
Florfenicol residue above the level of reporting was not detected in any of 96 individual wild finfish samples caught between 1 km and 3 km of a treated lease, or in any of 192 individual wild finfish samples caught more than 3 km from a treated lease.
Public Health Services has reviewed all results to date and maintains its precautionary advice, which is available on the Department of Health website.
Link to final report: