The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) have prepared the Reflections and Learnings - 2025 Mortality Event Report (the Report).
The Report outlines the post-event reflections, learnings and actions that have been gathered through a multi-agency operational de-brief process.
The Report like most other critical event operational debrief processes is focussed on future improvements, it does not offer, nor does it intend to offer, a forensic or regulatory evaluation of the event.
Importantly, the Report informs the community what is understood to have occurred, what is being done to prepare for this summer and how regulatory coordination is being strengthened ahead of any future marine events.
The Report identifies ten actions, focused on continuous improvement. Three of the ten actions are led by the salmon industry.
The EPA has strengthened its focus on waste management and preparedness across the salmon industry. Companies have been required to develop and submit Waste Management Plans to the EPA Director, as set out in their environmental licenses.
The EPA has also reviewed and finalised a Florfenicol Residue Monitoring Program to ensure environmental safeguards are in place ahead of the use of this veterinary treatment within the industry.
A summary of other work which has been progressed includes:
- Commenced the process of varying marine Environmental Licences to add new conditions around detection, containment and removal of dead fish within a specified timeframe and keeping records to demonstrate compliance.
- Reviewed reporting templates used by industry, including for mortality weight reporting, to ensure that all relevant data is provided in a consistent manner by the companies.
- Liaison with Biosecurity Tasmania, the Department of Health, and Marine Resources within NRE Tas so that regulatory requirements are better aligned, and to establish data sharing arrangements.
- Increased surveillance of marine farms and shore based facilities receiving mortality waste.
Report on Progress
A progress report detailing the status of implementation of the actions from the Reflections and Learnings - 2025 Mortality Event Report will be published on the NRE Tas website in February 2026.