Antibiotic name and dosing period
Florfenicol 100% Active. Ten-day treatment under a single Veterinary Authority, starting on 22 February 2026 and finishing on 3 March 2026.
Summary of sampling rounds undertaken
Water, seabed sediment and wild fish samples were collected immediately after treatment (day 1 post-treatment, day 7 post-treatment, and day 21 post-treatment).
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, 77 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 77 wild fish samples included 12 benthic and pelagic species, being Australian salmon, barber perch, blue mackerel, blue-throated wrasse, cod, jack mackerel, jackass morwong, pike, purple wrasse, red cod, snapper, and yellowtail scad.
In total, 24 sediment samples and 42 water samples were collected and analysed at multiple distances from the pen bays and including a reference site up to approximately 9.0 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 – Marine Farming Lease No. 142 (Roberts Point) – February 2026, section 28(2) of the Environmental Standards for Tasmanian Marine Finfish Farming 2023, and any minor variations approved by the EPA Director.
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 6 of 23 wild finfish samples (4 jack mackerel, 2 Australian salmon) caught within 1 km of the treated lease during the 10 days after the end of treatment. 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 23 wild finfish samples caught more than 1 km from the treated lease during the same period.
Florfenicol residue above the level of reporting was not detected in any of 12 wild finfish samples caught within 1 km of the treated lease or 6 samples caught between 1 km and 3 km of the lease on day 21 after the end of treatment at the 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:
Final Report - Therapeutant Residue Monitoring Program - MFL 142 Roberts Point (PDF 2Mb)