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Sydney, Jan. 6, 2017 (dpa/NAN) Australia has suspended imports of raw green prawns after an outbreak of white spot disease in Queensland, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce announced on Friday.
The highly contagious viral infection, which does not affect humans but can rapidly kill the crustaceans, was detected in raw prawns sold at shops in Queensland State.
Criminal charges are being pursued against one importer, with another four under investigation, said Joyce, who is also agriculture minister.
“We will not be taking any chances.
“Five farms on Queensland’s Logan and Albert River area have been decontaminated, while another two are under quarantine.
“Welfare of Australian farmers must always be front of mind,” he said.
The source of the outbreak is still being investigated.
However, prawns worth tens of millions of dollars in ponds at the infected farms have had to be destroyed since white spot was confirmed last month.
“Prawns with white spot disease are safe for human consumption once cooked.
“The disease posed serious risk to the farmers since it could devastate 260million dollar industry if it takes hold,’’ Joyce told the media.
He said that the government fears the infected raw prawns could be sold to be used as baits for fishing, which could contaminate local prawns in waterways.
The suspension is to remain in place indefinitely and will not affect imported cooked prawns. Joyce said the outbreak in Queensland was eradicable and the disease had not spread in the wild.
A previous outbreak of white spot disease in Darwin in 2000 was successfully eradicated.
Australia imported around 48,000 tons of prawn products, including frozen and processed prawns, worth 620 million dollars in 2015-2016.
Nick Moore, a board member at the Australian Prawn Farmers Association, who manages an infected farm, welcomed the suspension.
He said it was too late since the owners of affected properties face losses in the tens of millions of dollars. (dpa/NAN)
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=========Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Morayo Omolade