[BREAKING] Movement control order for prawns (Moreton Bay) – white spot syndrome virus

PURSUANT to section 124 of the Biosecurity Act 201 4 (the Act), I make the following movement control order:

1. Why this movement control order is being made and what it is intended to achieve

This movement control order is being made to assist in the management and control of white spot syndrome virus, the causative agent of white spot disease by restricting the movement of certain white spot syndrome virus carriers and allowing control measures for this purpose. White spot syndrome virus, as the causative agent of white spot disease (where white spot disease is prohibited matter under schedule 1 of the Act), has been detected in seven aquaculture premises at Alberton and Woongoolba, the Logan River, an area south of the Logan River in Moreton Bay and in Deception Bay and off the Redcliffe Peninsula in Moreton Bay. The virus is highly contagious and could spread rapidly if not contained.

This virus is the causative agent of white spot disease, a devastating disease of decapod crustaceans and is exotic to Australia. lt is a large DNA virus assigned as the only member of the genus Whispovirus (family Nimaviridae). In farmed prawns, white spot disease kills 100% of prawns within a few days. The disease attacks multiple systems in the prawns including the gills and this inhibits their ability to take up oxygen resulting in suffocation . Evidence from overseas outbreaks indicates that the incubation period for white spot syndrome virus in farmed prawn populations could be up to 40 to 45 days. In wild populations, the incubation period may be indefinite because animals in the wild rarely or never show clinical signs of infection.

White spot disease and white spot syndrome virus, in this case, therefore present an immediate and serious risk to the aquaculture industry, commercial and recreational fishing industries as well as the environment. In this context, I consider it is necessary to take actions to restrict the movement of white spot syndrome virus (which is biosecurity matter under the Act) and its carriers by making a movement control order for a specified area that covers Moreton Bay, Pumicestone Passage, waterways flowing into Moreton Bay and south to the Queensland/New South Wales border, the 100 metres eastward of the ocean beaches on the Islands surrounding Moreton Bay and the Gold Coast to the Queensland/New South Wales border (see map attached). I consider it necessary to make this movement control order as I am satisfied, on reasonable grounds that white spot syndrome virus poses a biosecurity risk of enough seriousness, and the risk is high enough to justify the making of the order.

2. Details of the controlled biosecurity matter(s) and carrier(s) to which the order relates

The biosecurity matter for this movement control order is white spot syndrome virus. This movement control order relates to certain carriers of white spot syndrome virus. White spot syndrome virus c.an be spread on the following carriers: a. All life stages of decapod crustaceans (including but not limited to prawns, crabs and lobsters) b. Avian species that may have been feeding on infected species and moving those infected species to other places. c. All stages of the lifecycle of Copepoda crustaceans d. Insect larvae e. All lifecycle stages of polychaete worms f. Water g. Sediment. This movement control order relates only to the following carriers (white spot syndrome virus carriers): a. Decapod crustaceans; and b. Polychaete worms.

3. The area to which the order relates

The area to which the movement control order applies is indicated in the map at attachment 1 and includes:

• The Eastern boundary is defined as 1 OOm seawards of the ocean beaches from the Queensland/New South Wales border to the tip of Moreton Island, along the northern shore of Moreton Island to Comboyuro Point, across to Skirmish Point on Bribie Island, up the eastern ocean beach to the tip of Bribie Island and across to Caloundra Head.

• The inland boundary is defined by the local government areas Moreton Bay Regional Council, Logan City, Brisbane City, Logan City Ipswich City and Gold Coast City, and selected localities from Sunshine Coast Regional Council: Bells Creek, Beerburrum, Beerwah, Booroobin, Bribie Island North, Caloundra, Caloundra West, Coochin Creek, Crohamhurst, Kings Beach, Glass House Mountains, Golden Beach, Mount Mellum, Moffat Beach, Landsborough, Peachester, Pelican Waters and Shelly Beach.

4. Persons to whom this movement control order applies

To achieve the purpose of this movement control order, the order applies to persons within the movement control order area. Under section 126 of the Act, a person to whom a movement control order applies must comply with the order. The maximum penalty for failure to comply with a movement control order is a fine of 2000 penalty units or 1 year’s imprisonment.

5. The prohibitions and restrictions that must be complied with by persons to whom this order applies

The prohibitions and restrictions that must be complied with by persons to whom this order applies are as follows: (a) A person must not remove the following white spot syndrome virus carriers out of the movement control area unless the person has a biosecurity instrument permit issued under section 132 of the Act: (i) decapod crustaceans; and (ii) polychaete worms (b) However the following carriers are excluded from the restriction stated in paragraph (a) above: (i) cooked carriers; and (ii) uncooked carriers that have originated from outside the movement control order area and are transiting through the movement control order area in commercially sealed, unopened packages that pass through the area without stopping. (c) A person within the movement control order area must allow an inspector appointed under the Act or a person under the direction of an inspector appointed under the Act to: (i) Inspect, examine, film or test any white spot syndrome virus carrier; (ii) Treat or destroy any white spot syndrome virus carrier; (iii) Clean or disinfect any place, including any structure or thing at a place; or (iv) Take any white spot syndrome virus carrier for inspection, testing, treatment or destruction. (d) A person to whom this movement control order relates must notify an inspector about­ (i) the presence of controlled white spot syndrome virus; or (ii) if the person reasonably suspects the presence of white spot syndrome virus.

6. Period of the order

The movement control order will stay in force for three (3) months after 16 March 2017 unless earlier revoked.

7. Revocation of previous movement control order

The movement control order made on 21 January 2017 in relation to white spot syndrome virus in the Logan and Albert Rivers is revoked.

8. Authorisation 
Elizabeth Woods
Director-General
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries