‘Major biosecurity issue’: White spot disease found in wild prawns for first time around Evans Head, near Ballina in northern NSW

White spot virus has been detected in wild school prawns for the first time in NSW during routine water testing near Ballina. Here’s the latest.

Prawns are an Aussie favourite – but there’s fears there will be fewer of the delectable crustaceans up for grabs if white spot continues its spread.

White spot virus has been detected in wild school prawns for the first time in NSW during routine water testing at Evans Head, south of Ballina in northern NSW.

There’s fears the crustacean infection could quickly spread, killing off prawns and impacting seafood producers in the region and further afield.

On Tuesday, the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) tested 39 groups of prawns and only three groups did not test positive to white spot.

A prawn with white spot virus.

A Biosecurity Control Order began on Thursday and is due to last at least three months.

The order restricts the movement of green (uncooked) school and king prawns and other decapod crustaceans (excluding mud, blue swimmer, three spot and spanner crabs, lobsters, and bugs).

Beach and other polycheate worms are also part of the order in place to minimise the risk of spread statewide and across the nation.

White spot is devastating for industry because it is contagious and highly lethal for prawns, but humans cannot contract the virus and prawns remain safe to consume.

The shock Evans testing follows the discovery of the virus at three Clarence River prawn farms in February last year.

Clarence Valley fisherman Bruce Clarke was one fisher calling for more help for the industry.

Bruce Clarke’s boat. He was hit hard by white spot in the Clarence.

That prompted Clarence River Control Zone – which remains in place more than a year on.

Clarence MP Richie Williamson said he held “concerns” infected prawns were in the wild.

“This is a major biosecurity issue now that’s gone from prawn farms into wild catch. It has the potential to wipe-out our local prawn industry,” he said.

“I am sure alarm bells are ringing everywhere, frankly – because they should be.”

The infected prawns were found near Evans Head. Picture: Cath Piltz

Scientists have been investigating if the Evans virus is the same strain previously identified in the Clarence and southeast Queensland

Mr Williamson said it was “lunacy” that prawns were still being imported.

“Why we are letting uncooked prawns into this nation from areas overseas where white spot is prevalent is absolutely beyond my recall. I have no idea why we are doing it,” he said.

Clarence MP Clarence Richie Williamson and Page MP Kevin Hogan during a press conference at Clarence River Fisherman's Co-Operative after white spot hit the Clarence last year.

“In the areas where white spot is now prevalent in Northern Rivers, it’s now illegal to transport uncooked green sea prawn to any other parts of NSW.

“Yet we’re letting it in our National boarders every single day. It’s completely crazy.”

Clarence MP Richie Williamson believes there should be more regulations on uncooked green prawns coming into Australia. Picture: Supplied and (inset) File

Mr Williamson said he believed outbreaks were occurring due to fishers using supermarket prawns as bait.

There will be a NSW ministerial briefing on Monday about which processes need to be put in place to halt the spread of white spot.

Last year, prawn farmers received a $21.4 million support package from the state when they were struck by the crippling Clarence outbreak – but called for more help in the face of dire circumstances.

Mr Williamson urged the NSW government to provide commercial fishers in the Northern Rivers with the same level of financial aid if need be.