EPA confirms salmon giant Tassal tried to stop public release of report on antibiotic use in fish farms

Elevated levels of antibiotics have been found in native fish near salmon farming pens. (Supplied: Tassal)

The head of Tasmania's Environment Protection Authority has confirmed the state's largest fish farmer tried to prevent a report on antibiotic use in its fish pens being released because it was 'commercial in confidence'.

Right to Information documents obtained by the Tasmanian Inquirer suggest Tassal used over 600kgs of antibiotics to combat an outbreak of the bacterial vibrio disease at a lease near Coningham in January last year.