Update on White Spot in NSW
by NSW DPI - Recreational Fisheries 8 Jun 2024 21:37 BST
Prawns © NSW DPI
Last month NSW DPI and the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness has confirmed detections of White Spot in wild-caught school prawns near the Evans River (on 8 May) and Richmond River (on 25 May).
As a result, a Biosecurity Control Order is in place for the Evans and Richmond Rivers. The Control Zone encompasses the waters of the Richmond and Evans Rivers and adjacent ocean waters 10km north of the Richmond River mouth to 10km south of the Evans River mouth. The Clarence River Control Zone also remains in place.
The Control Zone 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), and beach and other polychaete worms out of the area.
To help prevent the spread of White Spot, DPI is reminding fishers to never use prawns intended for human consumption as bait. Using imported raw prawns as bait may introduce serious diseases into our waterways.
Always source your bait from a trusted bait supplier. Remember to dispose of your prawn waste (heads or shells) in general waste, never into our waterways.
White Spot does not pose a threat to human health or food safety, and NSW seafood - including prawns - remains safe to eat.
For more information, visit the NSW DPI White Spot webpage.