IN heart-breaking news white spot disease has again been found at two Logan River prawn farms and in Moreton Bay crabs.
It is more than three years since the disease was first found in south-east Queensland which saw millions of prawns destroyed and seven farms decimated.
Biosecurity Queensland scientists were hopeful that the disease had died out and Queensland was only months away from obtaining proof of freedom - two years of consecutive negative results for white spot.
White spot disease is a highly contagious viral infection that affects crustaceans, prawns and crabs, but they are safe to eat.
When it was found in 2016 seven prawn farms were closed down and strict biosecurity regulations introduced at farms and for commercial and amateur fishers.
It was thought the disease, rife in Asia, was introduced to local waters through amateur fishermen using imported supermarket seafood as bait.
In order for Queensland, and Australia, to be declared free of white spot disease, two years of consecutive negative results are needed.
A Biosecurity Queensland spokesman said in a statement that routine surveillance in Moreton Bay last month returned positive results in mangrove swimming crabs.
Samples from two prawn farms on the Logan River also returned positive for the disease which devastated the multi-million industry in 2016.
"Biosecurity Queensland will review all prawn farms to ensure future on-farm biosecurity management is appropriate in dealing with this new detection," the statement said.
"This is the second year of production for three prawn farms but the first time white spot disease has been detected again on-farm."
Biosecurity Queensland staff will meet with members of the Aquatic Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Disease to work out what can be done. Seafood from Queensland waters is safe to eat.
Fisheries Minister Mark Furner said it was the last thing people wanted to see.
"This is the second year back in production for three prawn farms but the first time white spot has been detected again on-farm," Mr Furner said.
White spot disease movement restrictions remain in place for raw prawns, yabbies and marine worms from Caloundra to the New South Wales border and west to Ipswich.
Last August tests were undertaken and no trace of white spot disease was found in Moreton Bay prawns and worms.
A spokesperson said then that line fishing was not permitted around the prawn farm inlet and outlet channels and this will remain in place.
"Movement restrictions will also remain in place for raw prawns, yabbies and marine worms in south-east Queensland to reduce the risk of spreading the disease," the spokesperson said.
An outbreak previously has occurred at Darwin Harbour but not signs of the disease have been seen there for years.
