Tasmanian salmon deaths halved in March, indicating mass mortality event is over, EPA saysTopic:Fishing and Aquaculture Industry1h ago1 hours agoMon 5 May 2025 at 11:03pmTasmania's EPA says all of the dumped fish waste was re-used beneficially in rendering, composting or use as fertiliser on agricultural properties. (ABC News: Luke Bowden)In short:Tasmania's Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has reported a decline in fish deaths after a mass salmon die off in the state's south-east earlier this year.The EPA says water quality monitoring also no longer detects the presence of antibiotics used to treat the fish infection.What's next?The EPA says it will continue to receive and monitor mortality data, and intends to publish it quarterly.abc.net.au/news/tas-salmon-fish-deaths-halved-in-march-reporting/105257234Link copiedShareShare articleThe Tasmanian salmon industry's mass mortality event is over, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) says, months after dead fish and fatty globules began washing up on beaches in the state's south.The state's environment watchdog says reporting data provided by salmon companies showed fish deaths halved in March compared to February, indicating the mass mortality event had peaked.The companies reported 3,395 tonnes of fish waste in March, down from 6,300 in February.The data showed no salmon went into landfill sites in March, with most of the waste going to land spreading and rendering.In March, the peak body for salmon farming apologised for what it has called an "unprecedented" mass mortality event in Tasmania's south-east after fish were impacted by a rickettsia bacterial outbreak, due in part by rising water temperatures.Dead salmon floating in the enclosed fish pens near Southport in February. (Supplied: Bob Brown Foundation)In a statement on Tuesday, EPA chief executive Catherine Murdoch said conditions were improving."Water temperatures are falling and there has been a significant decline in the number of pens above the mortality reporting thresholds in April," Ms Murdoch said.Water quality improves, no antibiotics detectedWater quality in the impacted area has also improved, with independent environmental monitoring of water quality conducted by the EPA no longer detecting the presence of antibiotics used to treat the fish infection.Salmon die-off in Tasmania 'largest we've ever seen'Photo shows a skip bin with salmon carcassesWith Tasmania's salmon companies reeling from unprecedented losses due to disease and warm weather, the industry is told it will face investigation by the Environment Protection Authority."Water quality and beach sediments at four beaches in the southern D'Entrecasteaux Channel found all samples to be below the detection limit for the antibiotic oxytetracycline," the statement read."As part of this program, the EPA collected water samples in the last two weeks of March at 10 offshore locations and a significant number of wild fish at four locations within the southern D'Entrecasteaux Channel for analysis and none of these samples detected any antibiotic residues."The EPA had previously reported February's dead fish waste at about 5,500 tonnes, or roughly 6 per cent of the industry's annual production.The dead fish came from pens in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, in south-eastern Tasmania, owned by Huon Aquaculture and Tassal.Mandated industry reporting on salmon mortalities began earlier this year, with the EPA saying they intend to publish data quarterly going forward.Posted 1h ago1 hours agoMon 5 May 2025 at 11:03pm, updated 1h ago1 hours agoMon 5 May 2025 at 11:12pmShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesNationals deputy leader 'shattered' she will likely lose Senate seatLIVEPhoto shows Perin Davey listens to a press conference by Water Minister Tanya Plibersek at Parliament HouseSea of solar gives a clue why Australians chose batteries over nuclear Topic:Energy PolicyPhoto shows Electricians place solar panels on roofGreens' Adam Bandt in danger as seat of Melbourne remains on knife's edgeTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A composite photo of a brunette woman, brown haired man with glasses, blonde woman with glasses and dark haired man.After millions of dollars and texts, Trumpet of Patriots fails to deliverTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Palmer scratches his head.The timeline prosecutors allege in the mushroom murder trialTopic:ExplainerPhoto shows A woman standing in front of her car.Related storiesCanada is banning ocean-based salmon farming. 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