Fears are growing a disease that devastated Queensland's multi-million-dollar prawn farming industry has taken hold in the wild.
Five of 54 recent samples of prawns and crabs have tested positive for white spot disease in northern Moreton Bay, near the Redcliffe Peninsula. It is the same area where infected seafood was discovered in 2017.
Queensland Agriculture and Fisheries minister, Mark Furner said Biosecurity Queensland was still processing samples, but tests from southern Moreton Bay and the Logan and Brisbane rivers had returned clear.
The white spot virus, which forced seven Logan prawn farms to de-stock at an estimated cost of $43 million, does not pose any health risks to humans.
Cooked prawns safe to eat
"It is completely safe for the public to go out there and consume prawns and other crustaceans that are cooked and they should continue to do that," Mr Furner said.
While farmers will be able to start re-stocking prawn ponds in a couple of months with extra biosecurity controls in place, the positive test results are the worst possible news for commercial operators already affected by strict embargoes.
It hit the reset button on a two-year movement restriction zone which extends from Caloundra to the New South Wales border.
Uncooked prawns, yabbies and marine worms are not allowed to leave that area. Freezing does not destroy the virus.
Crabs, lobsters and bugs are exempt. Biosecurity Queensland ruled as these animals are caught and sold for the sole purpose of being eaten, the risk of them being returned to natural waterways and spreading the white spot virus is negligible. Fish are also not affected.
Test results will decide future action
Tests of wild-caught crustaceans are continuing up the Queensland coastline to Cairns.
With testing incomplete, Queensland's acting chief biosecurity officer Malcolm Letts said it was too early to say if white spot virus syndrome could be eradicated from Queensland waters.
"There will be consultation with industry and at a national level with the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions before any decisions are made in relation to the strategy around eradication," Mr Letts said.
"We know that it's a particularly virulent disease and we know that it's destructive in the context of prawn farms.
"It's obviously having an impact on a range of different sectors that harvest out of Moreton Bay.
"The bait prawn sector has been significantly impacted."
In December 2017, Australia's inspector-general of biosecurity found a major biosecurity failure likely led to the outbreak of white spot disease in Queensland which was first detected in October 2016.
While the source of the infection has not been determined, Helen Scott-Orr said the failed import biosecurity system allowed huge quantities of white-spot infected raw prawns to be sold in supermarkets.
Imported products still testing positive
The Federal Agriculture department today confirmed seven out of nearly 400 consignments that have arrived in Australia since a six-month ban was lifted in July last year have tested positive for the virus.
"Currently, one importer is before the court and the company involved as well as two of its senior managers have been committed to stand trial later this year," the statement read.
"A further brief of evidence is currently being finalised in relation to another importer who failed to follow departmental directions to manage biosecurity risks. The maximum penalty for this offence is five years imprisonment."
In June 2017, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources said: "All future imports of uncooked prawns — including marinated, breaded, battered and crumbed prawns — will be subject to 100 per cent inspection at the border for white spot disease and a separate virus called yellowhead disease to ensure they comply with our import conditions."
The statement went on to say "high-risk products, including uncooked prawns, marinated prawns and Australian prawns processed overseas outside an approved government supply chain" would be subject to 100 per cent testing at the border before being released.
But a recent Senate hearing was told crumbed raw prawns were not subjected to the same level of testing as marinated raw prawns.
A spokesperson today said the Government considered crumbed raw prawns 'a lower biosecurity risk that was less likely to be diverted for use of bait'.
Import conditions for breaded, crumbed and battered prawns are currently being reviewed.
