Another round of white spot disease surveillance testing has been completed in Moreton Bay and the Logan River, with no positive results returned for the virus.
White spot disease broke out in Logan River prawn farms two years ago and then spread to the river and Moreton Bay, infecting other species like crabs.
It is thought the disease was introduced from Asia by amateur fishermen using imported supermarket marine foods for sale for human consumption as bait.
Fisheries Minister Mark Furner said the latest test results were important as some of the prawn farms on the Logan River prepared to go back into production.
“It is great to see some of the affected farms getting back into business and hopefully the results will give them a bit of reassurance before starting up again,” Mr Furner said.
“...We will continue to support the industry by working with the prawn farms as they go back into production to ensure a smooth and straightforward transition.
“I’d also like to remind fishers in the Logan River area that fishing is prohibited within 100 metres of prawn farm inlet and outlet channels around the prawn farms, as well as in all drainage channels on the farms.
“This legislation was put in place to help safe-guard the farms and is especially important now they are going back into production.”
The government has spent $20 million on a support package over the past two years.
The latest round of surveillance for white spot is part of a national program to confirm that the virus has not spread elsewhere.
White spot disease movement restrictions remain in place for prawns, yabbies and marine worms from Caloundra to the New South Wales border and west to Ipswich.
Previous rounds of surveillance had returned positive results for the virus causing white spot disease.
The disease is not harmful to humans. It is found widely in Asia but has broken out in Australia only once before in Darwin.
