A moratorium should prevent the issue of any new water licences for new developments in the southern Murray Darling Basin states until a review has been completed into the river system's ability to meet current demands, the peak body for Australia's fast-growing almond industry says.

Surging water prices and new developments tapping water from the country's largest river, along with a severe drought, is straining the river that suffered high-profile environmental collapses such as the deaths of thousands of fish earlier this year.