Media Release: Meadowbank Hatchery Antibiotic Use – Public Disclosure Needed

February 10, 2026

Public Disclosure of Meadowbank Hatchery Antibiotic Use Needed

10 February 2026

Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb today called for an end to voluntary disclosure of antibiotic use across fisheries hatcheries as well as marine farms, following revelations that Huon Aquaculture used the antibiotic oxytetracycline (OTC) in its Meadowbank hatchery during January.

Ms Webb is also calling for immediate clarification of all details of the antibiotic treatment and public disclosure of all monitoring reports.

“Revelations that antibiotics were used in the Meadowbank hatchery last month but were not disclosed publicly are deeply disturbing and raise many serious questions,” Ms Webb said.

“Despite the company apparently reporting the January antibiotic use to the EPA, the public was not notified, which I find utterly extraordinary and unacceptable.

“The failure to inform the public in light of the serious community concerns over the secrecy surrounding the use of Florfenicol last year indicates the lessons to build public trust and maintain confidence were not learned.”

Ms Webb said the failure to update the public was more concerning given the hatchery’s proximity to Greater Hobart’s water catchment.

“Tasmanians have a right to expect rigorous regulation and reporting of all environmental conditions of fish farm hatcheries located near freshwater rivers, particularly those which feed our public water supplies.

“The Meadowbank hatchery is within the Bryn Estyn plant water catchment which serves all of Greater Hobart.

“It beggars belief that the current regulatory system does not require mandatory disclosure and public reporting of any antibiotic use within hatcheries, including any monitoring for potential leakage detection in nearby waterways.

“Clearly, we need a mandatory reporting of antibiotic use across fish farms and hatcheries, and public disclosure, including monitoring reports, provided in a timely manner.”

Ms Webb will be writing to the Minister seeking answers to the following urgent questions:

  • When did the January use of the antibiotic oxytetracycline (OTC) treatment commence, its expected duration of use, and the nature of the bacterial outbreak it is seeking to address? 
  • When did the company first detect signs of the outbreak, and when did they first inform the EPA of the outbreak and antibiotic use?
  • Was the Minister aware of the January use of antibiotic treatment at the Meadowbank hatchery? If so, when was the Minister informed?
  • Has the Department of Public Health been informed, and what will be its role in any ongoing monitoring?
  • Will the need for mandatory reporting and disclosure of hatcheries be included in the government salmon industry review?
  • If the EPA has revised Huon Aquaculture’s hatchery licence in light of the January antibiotic treatment, why wasn’t mandatory reporting already a licence requirement?
  • What assessment was undertaken of any potential implications or risk of the antibiotic treatment for the Greater Hobart water catchment?
  • Has any antibiotic been detected in waterways outside the hatchery licence area?
  • Have there been any other outbreaks and use of antibiotics in freshwater hatcheries around the state?
  • What assessment, approval, monitoring and public disclosure processes will now be implemented to keep the public informed of the antibiotic use and status for the Meadowbank hatchery in this particular instance, and more broadly for all hatcheries around the State in the future?