Latest news with #farmedSalmon
ABC News
3 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
Tasmania looks to fast-track new antibiotic for farmed salmon as bacterial disease continues to spread
The Tasmanian government is seeking fast-tracked approval for another antibiotic to be used to treat farmed salmon in public waterways as it continues to grapple with an endemic bacterial disease. Piscirickettsia salmonis — or P. salmonis — is continuing to circulate in salmon pens in southern Tasmania after a mass mortality event in the summer, with fears over warmer winter and spring conditions. Crossbench MPs were briefed on Friday, and claim that the urgency was due to a worsening outbreak in at least one part of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, which they say was confirmed under questioning during the briefing. The government has avoided using the term "outbreak", instead describing the disease as "endemic" in multiple regions and that mortalities have not reached reportable levels at this stage. Farmed salmon were treated with an oxytetracycline antibiotic during the summer outbreak, when globules of fat from dead fish washed up on multiple beaches. The industry is now pushing for the use of an antibiotic called Florfenicol — which would require new approvals — and has been engaging with the government since February. Primary Industries Minister Gavin Pearce said oxytetracycline had "limited uses" and that he wanted to push ahead with Florfenicol. "This is not listed on Australian labels and approved, however, that process is going forward with the authority at the moment," Mr Pearce said. "We're looking at probably four to six weeks by the time we get an interim permit for that use. Tasmania's Natural Resources and Environment Department confirmed that compliance and intelligence gathering was occurring over farmed fish pens in southern Tasmania, to monitor any increased mortalities. Acting chief veterinary officer Deborah McSweyn said the new antibiotic would be administered as a top coat feed, which could spread into the surrounding marine environment. "There is absolutely every chance that it will spread beyond the pens," she said. "That is why we collaborate with the EPA [Environmental Protection Authority] to do really robust and very rigorous testing to monitor those effects." The EPA is developing a monitoring schedule for Florfenicol to determine how it spreads into the marine environment once administered for farmed fish. The EPA publishes monitoring reports online, but does not disclose when antibiotic use begins, leaving it up to salmon companies to disclose. The extent of current fish mortalities has not been publicly released. Under Tasmanian regulations, mortality events are only reported if more than 0.25 per cent of fish die in a pen over three consecutive days. Independent Franklin MP Peter George told ABC Radio Hobart that Premier Jeremy Rockliff contacted him on Thursday night — before the briefing — to disclose concerns about the level of disease in a pen. Ms McSweyn said the level of disease in pens was "very hard to know". "P. salmonis will always be there as an endemic bacteria. "There is no way of being clear of P. salmonis." She said there had not been an increase in antibiotic resistance among farmed salmon, and that testing for this was continuing. When asked if salmon with P. salmonis was continuing to be harvested for human consumption, Ms McSweyn said the disease was endemic. The Natural Resources and Environment Department previously said the bacterium does not pose a risk to human health. Four crossbench MPs — Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff, and independents Mr George, Craig Garland and Kristie Johnston — attended the briefing with agency officials. They were concerned about whether the government had been able to obtain all relevant information from salmon companies over the extent of disease levels and mortalities. Mr George said the industry needed greater reporting conditions over disease spread. "What was made less clear today is exactly the extent of the disease outbreak, and that's because the … multinational fish farms do not have to tell anyone about the extent of the disease," he said. The crossbenchers remain in negotiations with the Liberals and Labor ahead of a no-confidence motion on Tuesday to determine the next premier and government, and again called for greater regulations for the salmon industry. When asked if the ongoing and evolving use of antibiotics was sustainable for the farmed salmon industry, Mr Pearce said it was common in agricultural sectors. "In my humble opinion, science continues to evolve every day," he said. "If I took you back 10 years, most of the antibiotics [and] medication that you would have been prescribed 10 years ago is no longer available." In a statement, industry body Salmon Tasmania said intended new treatments would form part of a range of actions to combat P. salmonis. "New actions include improved vaccines, stronger biosecurity, feed adjustments, on-farm innovations, and new treatment options," the statement reads.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists invent way to make farmed salmon healthier and better for you
Scientists have invented a way to make farmed salmon healthier. Feeding fish with a new type of rapeseed oil, which includes a natural red pigment, makes pink seafood richer in omega-3 oils and filled with more antioxidants, a study has found. The pinkness of a fish, whether shrimp, trout or salmon, comes from consumption of a chemical called astaxanthin, which is produced by some algae in the wild. Wild fish eat this in their diet and become pink as a result, but farmed fish do not and as a result have naturally grey flesh. These fish are therefore fed synthetic versions of this chemical to make the aesthetically pleasing hue consumers desire. But a genetically modified variant of the crop, which is spliced with genes from the scarlet flax flower, creates a plant that naturally produces seeds rich in astaxanthin. DNA, which powers the pigment-making pathway, was injected into the crop's own genome and small batches were grown at trial sites in the US and UK. Published in the Plant Biotechnology journal, data show that in each gram of seed from this new crop, there are 136 micrograms of colourful pigments. More than a third (47 micrograms) is astaxanthin. Giving this to fish in their diet to make them pink, instead of the current synthetic astaxanthin, would make the salmon healthier and better to eat, scientists say. In another experiment by the same scientists at Rothamsted University, oil made from these plants was given to 120 rainbow trout in four tanks. The study was later published in the journal Aquaculture. These animals grew just as big and were richer in health chemicals such as omega-3, the study found. Prof Johnathan Napier, a plant biotechnology pioneer who led the work at Rothamsted, told The Telegraph: 'The plant-based source of the pigment is accumulated and delivers benefits to the fish. 'In particular, it can help reduce the build-up of pro-inflammatory molecules. 'We are also hoping to see if having diets in which the plant-derived astaxanthin is present makes them more resistant to disease (especially lice) and stress – that work is ongoing.' The fish which eat the new oil are healthier, he said, and the humans that eat the fish are also set to benefit from the change. Prof Napier said: 'One would hope that fish being fed this diet would be more healthy [sic],' 'Astaxanthin helps to reduce oxidation, and therefore protects the fish's metabolic state as well as protecting the healthy omega-3s and then we consume and get health benefits for ourselves. 'And there is also an additional potential benefit from having the astaxanthin in your diet, as an antioxidant.' The scientists who invented the new plant used genetic modification techniques to create the astaxanthin-rich rapeseed oil. It is not possible to grow this crop commercially in the UK because the UK still uses the EU legislation prohibiting genetically modified (GM) foods. GM foods are allowed in the US and Prof Napier believes fish and farmers over there will be able to benefit from this new product in less than ten years. Red tape around the use of GM foods in UK agriculture, he believes, is stifling the market and also preventing foods which Prof Napier said: 'Tax revenue is being used to fund millions of pounds' worth of fundamental research in UK universities and institutes. 'But the potential arising from any useful discoveries is not correctly captured or exploited because of regulatory burdens. 'In the specific example of GM crops, we are still lumbered with the EU regulations, so we are double-whammied.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
14-06-2025
- Science
- Telegraph
Scientists invent way to make farmed salmon healthier and better for you
Scientists have invented a way to make farmed salmon healthier. Feeding fish with a new type of rapeseed oil, which includes a natural red pigment, makes pink seafood richer in omega-3 oils and filled with more antioxidants, a study has found. The pinkness of a fish, whether shrimp, trout or salmon, comes from consumption of a chemical called astaxanthin, which is produced by some algae in the wild. Wild fish eat this in their diet and become pink as a result, but farmed fish do not and as a result have naturally grey flesh. These fish are therefore fed synthetic versions of this chemical to make the aesthetically pleasing hue consumers desire. But a genetically modified variant of the crop, which is spliced with genes from the scarlet flax flower, creates a plant that naturally produces seeds rich in astaxanthin. DNA, which powers the pigment-making pathway, was injected into the crop's own genome and small batches were grown at trial sites in the US and UK. Published in the Plant Biotechnology journal, data show that in each gram of seed from this new crop, there are 136 micrograms of colourful pigments. More than a third (47 micrograms) is astaxanthin. Giving this to fish in their diet to make them pink, instead of the current synthetic astaxanthin, would make the salmon healthier and better to eat, scientists say. In another experiment by the same scientists at Rothamsted University, oil made from these plants was given to 120 rainbow trout in four tanks. The study was later published in the journal Aquaculture. These animals grew just as big and were richer in health chemicals such as omega-3, the study found. Prof Johnathan Napier, a plant biotechnology pioneer who led the work at Rothamsted, told The Telegraph: 'The plant-based source of the pigment is accumulated and delivers benefits to the fish. 'In particular, it can help reduce the build-up of pro-inflammatory molecules. 'We are also hoping to see if having diets in which the plant-derived astaxanthin is present makes them more resistant to disease (especially lice) and stress – that work is ongoing.' The fish which eat the new oil are healthier, he said, and the humans that eat the fish are also set to benefit from the change. Prof Napier said: 'One would hope that fish being fed this diet would be more healthy [sic],' 'Astaxanthin helps to reduce oxidation, and therefore protects the fish's metabolic state as well as protecting the healthy omega-3s and then we consume and get health benefits for ourselves. 'And there is also an additional potential benefit from having the astaxanthin in your diet, as an antioxidant.' The scientists who invented the new plant used genetic modification techniques to create the astaxanthin-rich rapeseed oil. It is not possible to grow this crop commercially in the UK because the UK still uses the EU legislation prohibiting genetically modified (GM) foods. GM foods are allowed in the US and Prof Napier believes fish and farmers over there will be able to benefit from this new product in less than ten years. Red tape around the use of GM foods in UK agriculture, he believes, is stifling the market and also preventing foods which Prof Napier said: 'Tax revenue is being used to fund millions of pounds' worth of fundamental research in UK universities and institutes. 'But the potential arising from any useful discoveries is not correctly captured or exploited because of regulatory burdens. 'In the specific example of GM crops, we are still lumbered with the EU regulations, so we are double-whammied.'
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Aldi Salmon Scandal That Everyone Forgot About
Recently, Aldi found itself in hot water over something most customers probably didn't even know was an issue -- the store's farmed salmon. When you check on the internet, people really seem to love Aldi's salmon and most people take food packaging at face value, especially if something is marked as a sustainable product. The upper corner of Aldi's salmon packets used to feature the words "Simple. Sustainable. Seafood." Though most customers could see no issue with this, a few advocacy groups saw things differently. Toxin Free U.S.A. filed a complaint in 2021, accusing Aldi of misleading marketing, stating that the store's salmon reportedly came from Chilean fish farms that used unsustainable practices and toxic chemicals. Plenty of folks were drawn to the "responsibly sourced" label, thinking it meant clean water, healthy fish, and minimal environmental damage. Farmed fish can help reduce overfishing in oceans, but not all farms operate on the same ethical or environmental level. And, once customers learned more, that "simple seafood" started to look a little suspect. Read more: 10 Cheap Fish That Are Absolutely Not Worth Buying Toxin Free U.S.A., along with legal representation from Richman Law and Policy, filed a full-on complaint. They claimed Aldi was misleading consumers by slapping feel-good labels on fish that didn't live up to the hype. According to the nonprofit, these weren't just any farmed fish, they were raised in conditions that included heavy chemical use and feed laced with ethoxyquin, which is not approved for use in human food in the United States but is still used in fish feed. The presence of that chemical alone was enough to make waves. So, Aldi's marketing was hit hard as this wasn't a complaint about the fish itself but more about how the fish was sold. In a world where food labels already confuse people, putting a sustainability badge on a product with known red flags felt dishonest. The case drew attention to the gap between marketing buzzwords and actual sourcing practices. Though Aldi eventually settled and agreed to change its labeling, the damage to its reputation had already been done ... or so you'd think. In response to the pressure, Aldi made some changes. The company didn't admit wrongdoing, but it did agree to adjust its marketing language to avoid future confusion. That meant walking back claims like "sustainable" and rethinking how it promoted its farmed fish. It was a quiet resolution that didn't include any massive recalls or bold press releases; it was just a simple behind-the-scenes fix that most shoppers probably didn't notice. But, for those keeping tabs on food transparency, it was a reminder of how deceptive labels can be. Aldi's salmon still lines shelves in stores, and many customers continue to buy it without giving much thought to its origin. That's part of the problem, though -- once the scandal faded from headlines, so did the pressure. There's no guarantee that sourcing practices have improved, and watchdog groups are still skeptical about farmed fish from regions like Chile. (Some customers have also said that you should think twice about buying lunch meat from Aldi due to suspiciously lengthy expiration dates.) At the end of the day, most people want affordable seafood and assume the store has done its homework. For the highest quality, there are certain things you should look for when buying salmon, and if you care about the environment, understanding where your fish comes from should be on that list. If this situation proves anything, it's that "sustainable" isn't always as simple as it sounds. For more food and drink goodness, join The Takeout's newsletter. Get taste tests, food & drink news, deals from your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more! Read the original article on The Takeout.
