Disease

Queensland prawn farmers face white spot disease outbreak

Authorities are scrambling to contain an outbreak of white spot disease in Queensland as prawn farmers and fishermen face devastating losses in the pre-Christmas period.

Wild prawns taken from the Logan river, south of Brisbane, have tested positive, as have prawns at three of the eight land-based farms in the region.

The virus, which can stop prawns and crabs from growing but poses no risk to humans, was not previously known to be in Australia, and has sparked a ban on prawn and crab fishing in the river while eradication efforts continue.

The Queensland government has ruled out compensation for land-based prawn farmers and commercial fisherman hit by the closure of the river’s prawn and crab fisheries.