Crab cluster in northern Moreton Bay tests positive for white spot but Logan River prawns get all clear

A cluster of crabs in the northern parts of Moreton Bay has returned an initial positive result for possible white spot disease, in a deadly blow to the seafood industry ahead of Easter.

Mangrove swimmer crabs in the northern part of Moreton Bay have tested positive to white spot.

A CLUSTER of crabs in the northern parts of Moreton Bay has returned an initial positive result for possible white spot disease.

LOGAN RIVER WHITE SPOT FREE: OCT 2017

WHITE SPOT: 2018

BILL BYRNE BLAMES GOVT FOR WHITE SPOT

CHRISTMAS AND EASTER PRAWNS

Biosecurity Queensland said no positive tests were found of prawns in the Logan River, which was decimated by the disease in December 2016 with farms only getting back to full production this Easter.

SPECIAL FREE SUBSCRIPTION DEAL

Biosecurity Queensland said the preliminary tests would be sent to the Australian Animal Health Laboratory in Victoria for verification to ensure the result was not a false positive.

Australian Prawn Farmers Association executive Kim Hooper said 125 mangrove swimming crabs were tested and 112 were thought to have tested positive for the disease, which does not affect humans and only occurs in crustaceans.

“It is in a cluster in crabs in the northern Moreton Bay area … and there has been no positive detections of any prawns in this latest surveillance — in either the wild or in farms,” she said.

“It is preliminary testing but it is very concerning as our farmers have worked very hard to put in extra biosecurity measures since that incursion in 2016 and we continue to have a strong focus on biosecurity.”

Biosecurity Queensland put a ban on catching prawns in the Albert and Logan rivers during the white spot outbreak in 2016-18.

Ms Hooper said the preliminary test results were “ a huge blow” to the industry and her members would see how they could work with government to manage the disease.

“From an industry perspective we would not want to see this get a hold in Australia because we want to continue to supply fresh Australian prawns.”