Media Release: Interim Monitoring Report on Meadowbank Hatchery Antibiotic Residues Raises More Questions

Interim Monitoring Report on Meadowbank Hatchery Antibiotic Residues Raises More Questions

6 July 2026

Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb today said the Interim Report monitoring antibiotic residues at the Huon Aquaculture Meadowbank hatchery on the River Derwent, recently released by the EPA, raises further questions over the regulatory system in place for finfish farms operating in Tasmania’s fresh waterways.

The public first became aware of Huon Aquaculture’s January antibiotic treatments using oxytetracycline (OTC) to treat bacterial enteritis in the freshwater Meadowbank hatchery via media reports in February, but has not been advised of any monitoring results until the release of the June Interim Report.

“It beggars belief that mandatory reporting to the EPA of any fish mortality and antibiotic treatment in freshwater hatcheries is still not a requirement of companies’ environmental licences, despite the Meadowbank mortalities incident of January this year,” Ms Webb said.

“Over five months since the Meadowbank mortalities and the EPA still has not made full and timely disclosure of antibiotic use and subsequent monitoring data a mandatory licensing requirement for freshwater fisheries.

“The Interim Report into the Meadowbank incident confirms OTC was identified above reportable levels in sediment, water and wild fish.

“57% of sediment samples taken between 27 January and 7 May returned OTC levels above the reportable level.

“OTC was detected above reportable levels in both water samples and wild fish until 3 March.

“The community deserved to know that at the time of detection, not in June some months after OTC levels have dropped below reportable levels.

“Mandatory and timely full disclosure of freshwater fisheries incidents and monitoring results goes to the heart of public confidence in our independent regulatory entities and the proactive protection of our waterways.

“Tasmanians deserve an explanation for the delay in upgrading freshwater fisheries’ environmental licences to require mandatory disclosure of incidents, and a firm commitment to accelerate that process as a priority,” Ms Webb said.

Background:

The Meadowbank Hatchery OTC Residue Monitoring Interim Report: January/February 2026 Treatment, prepared for Huon Aquaculture by Marine Solutions Tasmania Pty Ltd, June 2026 was released by the EPA, Friday 3 July 2026 here.