BIOSECURITY Queensland has ramped up efforts to confirm how widespread white spot disease is in Moreton Bay prawns.
Testing is taking place from areas about the Southern Moreton Bay Islands and Logan River north to Deception Bay, with scientists appealing to fishermen to report any unusual signs on wild prawns or bait prawns.
Biosecurity Queensland scientists found the disease in more than 100 prawns just south of the mouth of the Logan River two weeks ago.
Until then, the virus had been found in just seven of more than 8000 wild caught prawns since early December.
Queensland chief biosecurity officer Jim Thompson said samples from all other stocked prawn farms in Queensland also would be tested as part of the program.
“We’ve increased our efforts in Moreton Bay including the sampling of prawns for testing from southern Moreton Bay to Deception Bay in the north and in the Logan, Brisbane and Pine Rivers,” Dr Thompson said.
“We will continue this intensive surveillance for a number of weeks to gain a baseline picture of the virus in Queensland.’’
Dr Thompson said aquaculture operators, commercial and recreational fishers should report any unusual signs in prawns and other crustaceans.
“Early detection provides a better chance of being able to contain and eradicate this serious disease,” he said.
Federal MP Bob Katter said he had been warning Parliament as far back as 2012 on the dangers of bringing in prawns from overseas and the risk of white spot and other diseases.
He told Parliament that imported prawns had been allowed into the country by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service despite scientists knowing that they carried disease.
“Biosecurity is a joke,’’ he said.
The Logan River is closed to the commercial and recreational take of crustaceans from the Jabiru and Luscombe Weirs in the west to the mouth of the river in the east and infected wild prawns have been found in the soutehrn bay.
Dr Thompson said any movement of green, uncooked crustaceans from the area could potentially spread the virus.
Biosecurity Queensland will hold information sessions at Victoria Point boat ramp, Masters Ave, Victoria Point on April 1, from 8am to 10am, at Logan River Parklands boat ramp, Curlew Cres, Eagleby on April 8 at 8am and Weinam Creek boat ramp, Redland Bay, on April 22 at 8am.
