A HIGHLY contagious exotic disease that has hit Logan River prawn farms has spread to Moreton Bay, with the potential for losses in the fishery.
Biosecurity Queensland scientists have found the disease in more than 100 prawns just south of the mouth of the Logan River.
Until now, the virus had been found in just seven of more than 8000 wild caught prawns since early December.
A Biosecurity Queensland statement said scientists were trying to work out why the spike had occurred.
“Sampling and testing will continue to monitor the survival of the virus in the wild and to assess if it has established in the natural waterways,’’ it said. “There remains a large number of samples currently undergoing testing at various laboratories.’’
The disease is of no threat to human health.
Moreton Bay Seafood Industry Association president Ron Dickinson said it would be the worst news possible if the disease became widespread in wild stocks.
“We’re not sure of the extent of impacts but we’ve heard from overseas that it doesn’t impact wild stocks as much as aquaculture where they are much more densely packed,’’ he said.
Mr Dickinson said mud crabbers who worked the Logan River area were being impacted by the government fishing closure and should be compensated in some way.
“The government’s helping out the prawn farms and that’s fair enough but they should also look at the trawler and mud crab fisheries,’’ he said.
Fisheries Minister Bill Byrne has said no compensation would be paid while the Opposition argues that commercial fishermen should be helped in some way.
Biosecurity Queensland said work would continue to decontaminate aquaculture farms.
Restrictions on the movement of crustaceans and worms from the Logan and Albert Rivers will remain in place.
Mr Dickinson said it was not known how the disease arrived although prawn farmers believed it was introduced through wild stocks by recreational fishers using imported supermarket prawns in the Logan River.
White spot disease effects prawns, crabs, yabbies and lobsters.
Biosecurity said it was widespread throughout prawn farming regions in Asia and had become established in prawns farmed in the Americas where it had caused severe losses.
Infected prawns may have a loose shell with numerous white spots (0.5-2.0mm in diameter) on the inside surface of the shell and a pink to red discolouration.
While other crustaceans such as crabs can be carriers of WSD, they may not display any visible signs and must not be moved from the movement control area.
