White spot disease update

Current situation – white spot disease update

Disease control activities have resumed on the impacted prawn farms in the Logan River region after they were suspended for a short time due to the weather event associated with Ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie.

Surveillance is continuing along the east coast of Queensland from the Sunshine Coast to Cairns. So far, eight samples, consisting of approximately 150 prawns per sample, have been collected in Tin Can Bay, Bundaberg and Cairns, with all sample results expected next week.

Movement controls

Restrictions remain in place prohibiting the movement of uncooked crustaceans out of the white spot movement control area. The movement control area extends from Caloundra to the New South Wales border, following a line 100 metres off the eastern coasts of Bribie, Moreton and Stradbroke Islands.

Under the movement control order prawns, crabs, yabbies and marine worms must not be removed from the movement control area unless they are cooked first.

To minimise the risk of spreading the virus that causes white spot, it is expected that before leaving the movement control area for extended periods, commercial crab and trawl operators follow the guideline for the decontamination of fishing apparatus and vessels. For vessels that are remaining in the movement control area or returning daily to the movement control area, usual cleaning and hygiene procedures are sufficient.

Queensland seafood is among the best in the world – tuck on in!

Sam Thaiday has come on board to support a new state-wide campaign encouraging Queenslanders to purchase local seafood. View and share the ‘Buy local seafood’ campaign video on our Facebook page.

The video was launched in front of 40,000 people at the Broncos versus Roosters home game at Suncorp Stadium and more than 250,000 people have watched the video in the first two weeks on Fisheries Queensland’s Facebook page. The campaign will continue throughout 2017.

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries launched the video with assistance from the Queensland Seafood Marketing Association.

Find out where you can buy local seafood with the Love Australian Prawns Seafood Finder and do your bit to support the Queensland seafood industry.