Precautionary warning remains in place on Logan River as prawn farms get ‘all clear’

A Queensland Health precautionary warning remains in place for seafood caught from the Logan River, where prawn farms have been given the ‘all clear’ from the state’s food regulator.

Health Authorities erected new signs this week warning people fishing on the Logan River that any seafood catch could be contaminated after a sewage spill further up the river.

Health authorities are still warning people not to eat seafood caught from the Logan River, after the state’s largest sewage leak, which temporarily halted production at nearby prawn farms.

Prawns from Logan River aquaculture farms are back on the market and safe to eat after the state food regulator revealed on Wednesday products from all the Logan River farms met Australia and New Zealand Food standards.

More than 350 million litres of raw sewage spilled into the Albert River at Yatala and washed into the Logan River after a pipe broke, possibly as early as January.

Five prawn farms suspended production in April after news of the sewage leak with some farmers freezing product while the state authorities conducted safety testing.

The farms also stopped pumping water from the river into their holding ponds.

Last month, Queensland Health conducted independent sampling at all farms to support the river water monitoring being conducted by the Gold Coast City Council.

New signs were erected with maps showing the suspected contaminated area and warning people about possible contamination of fish caught in the Logan River. Picture: Judith Kerr

In its public statement this week, regulating authority Safe Food Production Queensland said prawns from the accredited prawn farms were “suitable for supply” and prawns produced during the time of the spill deemed safe for consumption.

Safe Food Production Queensland (Safe Food) said the water in Logan River prawn farm ponds was “substantially different” to the water in the river with risk management systems controlling quality.

“Once testing was completing (at the farms), the product was deemed safe for consumption and the hold was lifted,” the statement said.

“The decision to recommend product be placed on hold was precautionary and there were no known foodborne illness cases linked to this incident.

“Based on the results of the investigation, Safe Food determined that the products from the farms met the requirements of the Australia and New Zealand Food Standards Code.

“The interventions in place to mitigate potential exposure to chemical and biological hazards from the Logan and Albert rivers have been effective in managing the risk associated with this event.”

A new sign warning people not to eat fish caught in the Logan River was erected this month. Picture: Judith Kerr

But the Gold Coast City Council and Queensland Health warning is still in place for those catching seafood on the Logan River.

Signs were erected along the river in Logan and on the Gold Coast in April alerting people not to eat the fish from the contaminated water.

Prawn farms are on the opposite side of the Logan River to a new $100 million sewerage plant, which will drain into the river when built. Picture: Contributed

New signs were erected this month near where a new sewerage plant is being built on the Logan River, opposite the prawn farms.

The new signs include maps outlining the suspected contaminated area.

“As a precaution, health authorities recommend not consuming seafood caught in this area until further notice,” the signs said.

The signs were erected days after Safe Food Production Queensland put on hold all seafood products harvested, caught, or farmed in the Albert and Logan River systems until health authorities completed risk assessments.

Queensland Health was contacted for comment.