Authorities confirm Pacific oyster Mortality Syndrome has been found in Tasmania

UPDATE: TASMANIA’S oyster industry has been confronted with a major new threat.

TASWEEKEND food and restaurant pix at Franklin to go with Graeme Phillips' review, picture of the Oyster

TASMANIA’S oyster industry has been confronted with a major new threat.

Pacific oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS) was detected at a Pitt Water lease, in southeast Tasmania.

NSW and South Australia have put a precautionary ban on the on importation of Tasmanian oyster seed stock as a result.

The disease kills oysters. It is not a threat to humans health.

It has struck oyster farms in NSW, NZ, France, Denmark and Norway.

While there are no restrictions on harvesting POMS oysters for human consumption, the industry imposes restrictions on the movement of oysters for stocking on to farms.

Oysters Tasmania executive officer Neil Stump today said the disease had not destroyed shellfish industries in other affected areas, but had forced dramatic and costly changes to farm operations.

“It will take some time to work out how it will manifest here,’’ Mr Stump said.

Chief Veterinary Officer Rod Andrewartha said: “Testing at Biosecurity Tasmania laboratories has identified Pacific oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS) as the cause of the event at this growers lease.”

The grower, working with Oysters Tasmania and Biosecurity Tasmania, acted quickly after an above average mortality detection at the lease last week and enacted measures to identify the cause and minimise industry impacts, Dr Andrewartha said.

Dr Andrewartha said surveillance was being undertaken at other leases and Biosecurity Tasmania would also continue to investigate how this virus occurred.

“Pacific oyster Mortality Syndrome is a virus that is generally spread through the oyster product or items that have been in contact with infected product,” he said.

POMS was first seen in Australia in NSW in 2010. Since then movement restrictions have been in place on oysters, oyster products to reduce the risk of spread to other areas.