A control zone has been established after the white spot syndrome virus was found in wild prawns in northern New South Wales.
The Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) found that a large number of the 195 school prawns caught from the coastal ocean area near Evans Head, south of Byron Bay, in late April tested positive for the virus.
Genetic tests are currently being carried out to confirm the DNA of the virus to see if there are any links to previous detections in New South Wales and Queensland.
NSW DPI Chief Veterinary Officer Jo Coombe said a new control area had been established to minimize the risk of the virus spreading to other parts of the state and country.
“This is the first confirmed detection of white spots in wild prawns in New Wales collected directly from ocean waters not associated with a clinical outbreak of white spots,” she said.
“The control zone restricts the movement of green, uncooked, school and king prawns and other decapod crustaceans, beach worms and other polychaetes out of the area.
“Mud, blue swimmer, three point and wrench crabs, lobsters and bugs are excluded from the movement restrictions.”
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In the nearby Clarence River, south of Evans Head, a separate control area for whiting has already been put in place.
The NSW DPI said white spot did not pose a threat to human health or food safety and the state’s seafood, including prawns, remained safe to eat.
However, the virus poses a risk to decapod crustaceans (shrimps, crabs, crayfish and lobsters).
It is highly contagious and often has devastating and fatal impacts on populations, according to the Australian Department of Fisheries.
