Further restrictions placed on fishing activities following the detection of white spot disease in wild prawns in Moreton Bay

Making the announcement that the exotic disease had been found in prawn populations near the Redcliffe Peninsula and Deception Bay, agriculture and fisheries minister Bill Byrne said it indicated the disease was more widespread than previously thought.

Mr Byrne said it had sparked the need for additional measures to contain the disease. 

“After seeing the impact of this disease on the prawn farming industry in the Logan River region, we are taking immediate steps to contain the risk of further spread,” he said.

“A movement control order for the Moreton Bay region is being established with immediate effect.

“It will be in place for three months to allow the government to contain any potential spread of the virus, conduct further testing and determine future action.”

Chief Biosecurity Officer Dr Jim Thompson said it was clear further steps were needed in the biosecurity response.

“Until recently we had only received a small number of positive results for white spot disease in prawns and crabs from the local Logan River area, but the new detections mean further movement restrictions are needed to safe guard the state’s multi-million dollar aquaculture industries,” he said.

“The first step, which we are implementing today, is to place a movement control order on the broader Moreton Bay region.

“We will then conduct additional intensive surveillance for the virus.

“The new movement control order replaces the existing restrictions in place on the Logan River and extends from Caloundra to the NSW border following the eastern coasts of Bribie, Moreton and Stradbroke Islands.

“To ensure that fishing and the local trade in fresh Moreton Bay seafood can continue, the movement control area will also encompass the western borders of the Gold Coast City Council, Brisbane City Council, and Moreton Bay Regional Councils.

“Fishing, crabbing and catching prawns can continue in Moreton Bay and catchments covered by the order, including the Logan and Albert Rivers, but people will not be able to move uncooked crustaceans such as crabs, prawns, yabbies, Moreton Bay bugs or marine worms, which can carry the disease, out of the area.

“People wishing to move these products out of the area whether for their own consumption or to sell in other markets, will have to cook them first.

“Cooking the animals destroys the virus that causes white spot disease.

“We are meeting with the various industries impacted by this decision to detail what they can and can’t do and explore options that will allow them to continue their business operations while the restrictions are in place.”

Dr Thompson said Queensland will also consult with other jurisdictions as part of the implementation of the new movement control order conditions.

Professional fishermen last December called for a total Logan River fishing ban in an attempt to control the spread of an exotic disease in prawns.

In February, Logan River prawn farmers said their futures hung in the balance, not knowing when they could begin restocking empty ponds or what government imposed conditions would be placed on the operation of their farms.

Likening the impact of the unprecedented outbreak of white spot disease in prawns as similar to foot-and-mouth disease in livestock, the seven farm businesses have been brought to a stand still, leaving owners with no income and an uncertain future. 

Under biosecurity laws, some 10 million prawns were destroyed after white spot was detected. That included the disposal of valuable breeding stock, in the attempt to eliminate the calamitous disease. 

Mr Byrne said the state government had worked closely and transparently with industry, federal authorities and national experts on the biosecurity response to the outbreak.

“To the end of February the Queensland government has spent $8.645 million on emergency response activities, guided by the national Aquatic Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases.

Mr Byrne said the strategy was endorsed by the federal government and supported by the experts who have guided response activities to date.

“This week we received a report from an independent expert advisory panel, which details the likely long-term impacts of white spot disease and options to protect the Queensland industry.

“The report is a comprehensive assessment of the issues the industry faces now and into the future and makes it clear that there will be significant implications from the arrival of white spot syndrome virus in Australia whatever decisions are made.

“The report suggests a number of options and the government has decided on a course of action that will provide the best chance of preventing the spread of the disease to prawn farms in other parts of the state while enabling commercial fishing to continue in Moreton Bay.

“The good news from the report is that there is no evidence that the virus has impacted on the wild catch of prawns and other crustaceans, even in countries where the prevalence of infection very high. However, it does highlight that limiting the risk of spread should be a priority.

“It explains why the virus poses such a threat to prawn farms and why we must take action to reduce the risk of spread to other parts of Queensland where there is aquaculture.”

Minister Byrne stressed that Queensland’s wild caught and farmed prawns were nutritious and safe to eat and that the movement control order was a precaution against spread of the disease.

More information on the disease, the biosecurity zone and a map of the area is available on the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries website at www.daf.qld.gov.au or by calling 13 25 23.

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