Landline Prawn white spot disease issue

Summary

The white spot disease outbreak in Moreton Bay has had devastating effects on local industries, particularly prawn farmers and bloodworm fishers. While prawn farmers and importers begin to recover, bloodworm fishers are still grappling with strict movement restrictions due to their connection to the same virus-carrying aquatic family. The federal government has offered limited support, and the industry faces ongoing struggles. With government assistance falling short, the future of Moreton Bay's unique bait industry hangs in the balance, threatening both local economies and recreational fishing across the country.

Takeaways

• 😀 The discovery of white spot disease in Queensland's Moreton Bay in early 2017 has severely impacted the local prawn industry and bait fishers.
• 😀 The disease is lethal to prawns but does not harm humans. It has led to significant movement control measures for marine products in the area.
• 😀 The Dimmick family has been harvesting bloodworms in Moreton Bay for three generations, but the disease outbreak has impacted their market, especially the lucrative Sydney market.
• 😀 Moreton Bay is the only place in Australia where bloodworms can be commercially harvested, but white spot's presence has restricted the sale of live worms.
• 😀 The government imposed restrictions to prevent the spread of white spot, banning the sale of prawns, crustaceans, and marine worms outside the restricted area unless cooked.
• 😀 The control order affecting Moreton Bay has caused a financial strain on local businesses, including prawn farms, bait wholesalers, and bloodworm diggers.
• 😀 Tweed Bait, Australia’s largest bait wholesaler, has seen its business significantly decline due to the movement control measures, with annual production halving after the white spot outbreak.
• 😀 The irradiation process, required to sell prawns outside the restricted zone, adds substantial costs, raising the price of prawns and affecting business profitability.
• 😀 Despite a $20 million recovery package for prawn farmers, bait fishers have not received compensation, even though the outbreak was linked to border protection failures.
• 😀 The federal government has not taken further action to support the bait industry, despite acknowledging the border security issues that led to the disease's spread.
• 😀 The ongoing white spot outbreak in Moreton Bay remains a significant threat, with no clear end date in sight, putting the local fishing industry under continuous strain.

Q & A

What is the main issue that the Moreton Bay prawn and bait industries are facing?

The main issue is the outbreak of white spot disease in Moreton Bay, which has led to strict movement restrictions on prawns, crustaceans, and marine worms, severely affecting local businesses, particularly those involved in live bait fishing and prawn farming.

How does the white spot disease affect the prawn industry in Moreton Bay?

White spot is a viral disease that is lethal to prawns, causing organ failure. It has resulted in movement control orders that restrict the sale of prawns and related products outside the affected zone unless they are cooked or irradiated, significantly impacting prawn farmers and bait suppliers.

Why are marine worms important to the fishing industry in Moreton Bay?

Marine worms, particularly bloodworms, are highly sought after as bait for recreational fishers, especially for whiting. They are a unique resource in Moreton Bay, and the industry relies heavily on their harvest for local and interstate sales.

What impact did the white spot disease have on the bloodworm fishers in Moreton Bay?

Due to the movement restrictions placed on marine worms, bloodworm fishers lost access to lucrative interstate markets. This has caused significant financial losses as they could no longer sell their product freely.

What measures were put in place to prevent the spread of white spot disease?

The government imposed a control order restricting the sale of prawns, crustaceans, and marine worms outside the restricted area unless cooked or irradiated. This was done to prevent the spread of the disease, although it created challenges for the bait industry.

How has the irradiation process impacted the cost of prawns for suppliers?

The irradiation process adds significant costs to the prawns, approximately an additional $5 per kilogram. This, combined with other logistical expenses, has placed immense pressure on suppliers, particularly those like Tweed Bait, who rely on prawns from the restricted zone.

What is the government's stance on compensating the affected industries?

The federal government has stated that it cannot afford to compensate every business affected by biosecurity outbreaks, despite acknowledging the impact on industries like the prawn and bait sector. They provided some assistance to prawn farmers but did not extend that support to bait fishers.

What are the challenges faced by Tweed Bait in light of the white spot outbreak?

Tweed Bait has faced substantial financial strain due to reduced sales, the added cost of irradiating prawns, and the inability to sell products outside of the restricted zone. Their production halved, and they have been working with government agencies to find ways to reduce costs but have been unable to fully recover.

Why is the Moreton Bay bait industry described as being 'on the brink of collapse'?

The Moreton Bay bait industry is struggling due to ongoing movement restrictions, reduced market access, increased costs for irradiating products, and lack of government support. With no clear solution in sight and the risk of white spot disease remaining, the industry is facing an uncertain future.

What has been the reaction of recreational fishers to the white spot issue?

Some recreational fishers, like Paul Scales, are aware of the risks associated with moving prawns intended for human consumption as bait. They support measures to prevent the spread of white spot disease but feel that the government needs to do more to stop infected prawns from entering the country.