EPA clashes with Greens on need for real-time tracking of salmon antibiotic use

Environment Protection Authority director Catherine Murdoch appeared before a budget estimates committee. (Supplied)

Tasmania's EPA director has rejected calls to collect and release real-time data on antibiotic use by salmon companies, citing legal and accuracy concerns.

The director said questions from the Greens about her commitment to transparency were an "attack" on her integrity.

Tasmania's salmon industry wants a new permit to use the antibiotics again.

The director of Tasmania's environmental watchdog has refused to begin collecting real-time information on antibiotic use by salmon companies, in a fiery exchange with Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff.

In budget estimates hearings this morning, Environment Protection Authority (EPA) director Catherine Murdoch accused Dr Woodruff of launching "an attack on my integrity".

Ms Murdoch questioned whether it would be legal to collect the information, despite other government agencies already doing so, and suggested the figures could be "factually incorrect".

Tasmania's Natural Resources and Environment Department has confirmed the antibiotic florfenicol was detected at a 'low level' in wild seafood 14 kilometres from where the drug was administered.

In November, Tasmania's salmon industry was granted an emergency permit by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to use florfenicol to treat a bacterial outbreak that had caused widespread deaths in salmon pens.

It was the first time the antibiotic, which is more commonly applied in land-based farming, had been used in Australian waters.

The total amount of florfenicol used has not yet been reported. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)

That permit was revoked in March this year after concerns about its spread into wild fish, and a committee this week heard it had been found in fish 14 kilometres away.

The total amount of florfenicol used in that period has not yet been publicly reported by the EPA, with reports for each lease only required within three months of the treatment ending.

The industry has already signalled it will seek a new permit to use florfenicol again.

Dr Woodruff told the budget estimates committee that salmon companies already informed other regulatory bodies in real time, including the APVMA and Biosecurity Tasmania.

"[Salmon companies] take bags of feed … that has been covered with florfenicol, and so they know how much has gone in," she said, asking why the EPA did not know those figures.

Ms Murdoch questioned whether the information provided by companies would be "factually correct", also saying the EPA