White Spot

• never use prawns intended for human consumption as bait. When fishing, always source your bait from a trusted bait supplier, such as a tackle shop
• it is illegal to bring bait caught in south east Queensland to NSW, source your bait from a trusted supplier local to the area you intend to fish
• dispose of your prawn waste (heads or shells) in general waste, never into our waterways
• make ‘clean’ part of your routine, wash your vehicles and gear between waterways
• if you catch your own bait, use it only in the water from where it came
• if you are a recreational fisher, please refer to important information for recreational fishers - use of prawns as bait

• follow your permit conditions, including those relating to biosecurity
• report any unusual mortalities or suspicions of White Spot to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 or a local Fisheries Officer as soon as possible, and within 24 hours
• if you haven’t already done so, prepare a Biosecurity Plan, both to minimise the risks of aquatic disease entering your property and of it spreading if it does enter
• use separate equipment for different ponds or tanks throughout your property if possible
• disinfect and decontaminate equipment between use in different areas of your farm
• keep good records of stock movements, for both incoming and outgoing stock and for movements to different areas within the farm
• minimise unnecessary visitors to your production areas of your farm and find out where delivery trucks and other visitors have previously visited before accepting them on site

• be aware of the temporary control order and NSW Control Order PDF, 1575.22 KB currently in place on uncooked prawns, decapod crustaceans (including lobsters, crabs, slipper lobsters, Moreton Bay bugs) and polychaete worms (including beach worms) originating from within the Clarence River Control Area and an area between Caloundra and Tweed Heads in south-east Queensland.
• ensure that you are not importing uncooked prawns, decapod crustaceans, or polychaete worms (for bait or human consumption) into NSW from within the Clarence River Control Area and affected area south-east Queensland, unless they have been treated in accordance with the temporary control order and NSW Control Order PDF, 1575.22 KB.
• uncooked decapod crustaceans destined for human consumption only, not bait, can move through the closure areas and into NSW if they have originated from outside the control areas, the packaging remains secure, the grower and packer details are clearly displayed and they are transported directly to a point of sale in NSW for human consumption.
• please note there are no movement restrictions on cooked decapod crustaceans that are securely packaged and transported directly to a point of sale in NSW. While cooking prawns inactivates White Spot, freezing prawns does NOT inactivate White Spot.

• the control order and NSW Control Order (PDF, 1575.22 KB) prohibits movement into NSW of uncooked prawns, decapod crustaceans, including lobsters, crabs, slipper lobsters, Moreton Bay bugs, and polychaete worms (marine worms) originating from the Clarence River Control Area and an area between Caloundra and Tweed Heads in south east Queensland. Uncooked decapod crustaceans destined for human consumption can move through the closure areas and into NSW if they have originated from outside the control areas, the packaging remains secure, the grower and packer details are clearly displayed and they are transported directly to a point of sale in NSW for human consumption. For the full extent of the restrictions please see the control order and NSW Control Order (PDF, 1575.22 KB).
• fittings used in the control areas in connection with cultivation or commercial catch of live or dead decapod crustaceans or polychaete worms are also prohibited from entry into NSW unless they are cleaned in accordance with a protocol approved by the NSW Chief Veterinary Officer.
• if trading interstate, check with the appropriate state for their restrictions as they differ from state to state.
• there is no movement restriction on cooked decapod crustaceans that are securely packaged and transported directly to a point of sale in NSW for human consumption
  to minimise risk of spreading disease ensure you adopt good biosecurity practices when travelling through the affected areas.
• report any signs of White Spot to 1800 675 888
• updates can be found at www.outbreak.gov.au

White Spot affects decapod crustaceans including prawns, crabs and lobsters. It is highly contagious to farmed prawns and other cultured crustacea, and can cause high rates of mortality in affected  stock.

It was the cause of significant mortality in prawn farms in south-east Queensland in 2016. It was detected and eradicated from an enclosed prawn facility in NSW in August 2022.

Prior to the detection in February 2023, it was initially discovered within an enclosed facility at a prawn farm in northern NSW via routine testing and was confirmed by laboratory analysis on 23 August 2022.

Prior to this detection, White Spot had never been detected in NSW.

Since 2016, DPI has been conducting routine surveillance in NSW with no evidence of White Spot.

Recent surveillance completed on 7 September 2022  found no evidence of White Spot in NSW wild prawn populations.

Ongoing tracing and surveillance activities are being undertaken to identify the source of the White Spot and how it got into NSW.

DPI has responded swiftly and has worked closely with the affected business, seafood industry and other state and federal jurisdictions to ensure rapid containment and management of the recent detection on the northern NSW prawn farm.

The short-term control order, first issued on Thursday 16 February 2023 and renewed on 1 March 2023, restricts the movement of raw, uncooked decapod crustaceans from an area defined as the Clarence River Control Zone, while containment, source detection and surveillance activities are underway. The NSW Government has had movement restrictions in place to limit the risk of White Spot entering our state since it was first detected in Queensland.

Protocols are in place for prawn production facilities in NSW which allow for early detection, containment and eradication of aquatic health issues.

Surveillance within the Clarence Estuary commenced on 16 February 2023.

The sequencing tests indicate the strain of white spot virus detected in NSW on 12 February 2023 shows strong similarity to the strain detected in NSW in August 2022. It is not the same as the south-east Queensland strain detected in 2016.

Preliminary results from wild surveillance have indicated a low level of white spot  DNA in a small number of prawn samples. The significance of these results is unclear, and there remains no evidence of active presence of white spot syndrome virus in these wild crustacean populations.

NSW DPI confirmed on Monday 6 March 2023, that retesting of wild caught prawns samples from the Clarence Estuary for White Spot is negative.

Additional surveillance is gathering crucial information to help inform future management of White Spot in NSW.

Since 2016, DPI has been conducting routine surveillance in NSW with no evidence of White Spot.

As part of the August 2022 detection, NSW DPI has completed surveillance of wild prawn populations in the estuarine and offshore areas of northern NSW where White Spot was detected and eradicated from a prawn facility.

There was no evidence of White Spot in any of these prawns.

Surveillance needs and priorities, including proof of freedom, are being considered by a national Aquatic CCEAD working group. Surveillance plans will be developed based on the AQUAVETPLAN Disease Strategy - White spot disease and the WOAH Aquatic Animal Health Code. Resourcing will need to be considered.

Prawns with White Spot may have:

• a loose carapace
• high degrees of colour variation, with a predominance of darkened (red-brown or pink) body surface and appendages
• white calcium deposits embedded in the shell, causing white spots 0.5 – 3.0 mm in diameter

Biosecurity is a shared responsibility, and everybody plays a part in safeguarding Australia’s and NSW’s biosecurity, protecting our economy, environment and community and our reputation as a clean and safe producer of healthy seafood.

Any questions about or suspicions of White Spot should be directed to the Emergency Animal Disease 24-hour Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Further information about White Spot can be found on the Australian Government outbreak.gov.au website

No. Currently, there is insufficient evidence from this trace detection to indicate that there is active presence of white spot syndrome virus in these wild prawn populations. The explanation and source of the trace detection of white spot DNA is still under investigation.

DPI is sampling of a range of wild crustacean species to help understand whether there is evidence to indicate white spot syndrome virus is present in those populations in the Clarence estuary.  These samples are currently being tested at NSW DPI's Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute (EMAI).

The control order will be reviewed as further data is received. Prawns, crabs and other crustaceans are still being tested for the presence of white spot syndrome virus. As results are provided, there will be a continual decision-making process on future management. The renewed Control Order has been extended to 29 March 2023 and it will be subject to the investigations currently taking place.

Yes, restrictions have been in place since 2017. In Queensland, movement restrictions have been in place for high-risk animals such as prawns, yabbies and marine worms. This means they cannot be moved out of the Queensland white spot disease restricted area unless cooked first.

In Queensland, after extensive testing, it was declared the crabs, lobsters and bugs were exempt from the restrictions and may be removed from the restricted area if destined for human consumption. These high value species are predominantly used for the sole purpose of being eaten, so the risk of them being returned to natural waterways and spreading white spot is insignificant.

Yes, you can continue to harvest school prawns, however all product (prawns, yabbies and polychaetae worms) must be cooked in the Clarence River Control Zone.

A control order on the movement of green prawns has been put in place to reduce the likelihood of white spot spreading. Currently this means that raw prawns, yabbies, nippers, shrimp and polychaete worms cannot be removed from the restricted area.  This Control Order has established a control zone known as the Clarence River Control Zone.

This Control Zone covers:

(a) all areas adjacent to the Clarence River authorised by an aquaculture permit issued under the Fisheries Management Act 1994,
(b) the Clarence River consisting of all waters within the boundary, and
(c) all waters of Lake Wooloweyah.

The control order will control the movement of uncooked prawns that could potentially impact other estuaries such as the Hawkesbury and Hunter estuary prawn trawl fisheries and numerous Estuary General prawn fisheries throughout NSW.

The order will also ensure that other product caught in NSW outside of the control order area, can be sent interstate, with minimal controls.

No. White spot disease is a major biosecurity threat to prawns and other crustaceans, but it does not pose a threat to human health or food safety. Prawns sold for human consumption are still safe to eat.

Yes, raw high valued crustaceans defined as ‘excluded carriers’ under the Control Order can be moved uncooked into and within NSW, including for sale purposes, provided that:

• It is being moved for human consumption
• It is cooked by the end consumer as soon as possible after arriving at its destination, and
• If it is alive, it is not placed in waters to which the Fisheries Management Act 1994 applies.

However, you are required to ensure that:

• Any water used for the transport of the excluded carrier is disposed of through a public sewer,
• Any waste produced for the transport of the excluded carrier is disposed of at a waste depot,
• The transporting of the excluded carrier is accompanied by documents that state:
  • The date the excluded carrier was captured or harvested, and
  • The location in the Control Zone where it was captured or harvested.

DPI are investigating testing and treatment options to consider this industry request.

SMS and emails will be provided to key stakeholders and effected share and endorsement holders as information or decisions are made. This white spot web page on the NSW DPI website has been established to be a central source of information.

Yes, DPI has been participating in a national white spot surveillance program since the Queensland detection. White spot has never been detected in NSW waters before this current 2023 event.

On the initial report, assessments are undertaken to review each individual case. White Spot disease in Australia is guided by the agreed national disease strategy – AQUAVETPLAN – Disease Strategy White Spot Disease .

Once suspicion of white spot disease has been confirmed, the Australian Chief Veterinary Officer is notified and the Aquatic Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Disease (AqCCEAD) is formed. AqCCEAD membership comprises the Australian Chief Veterinary Officer, state or territory chief veterinary officers or directors of fisheries, and representatives from Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and the CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory. AqCCEAD shares information and makes decisions on the management of an emergency aquatic animal disease incident until it decides the disease or threat no longer exists, or a national response is no longer required. NSW DPI uses the Biosecurity Act 2015 to enact legal instruments (such as a control order) based on the biosecurity risk. A control order can be made by the Minister if there is reasonable belief it is necessary to prevent, eliminate, minimize or manage a biosecurity risk or impact.

NSW DPI issued a a short-term control order on 16 February 2023 to restrict the movement of raw, uncooked prawns, other decapod crustaceans (such as crabs and lobsters) and polychaete worms from the Clarence River Control Zone. This was extended on 1 March 2023 and will remain in force until 29 March 2023. As the response to the disease evolves and new information is obtained, the control order will be reviewed.  While this process creates a level of uncertainty for stakeholders, it is the best process available to make decisions in real time to try a minimize any unnecessary disruption to industry.

DPI NSW will be looking to partner with industry to develop programs to support the sector. As this event has not been declared an emergency, there are no triggers to automatically provide compensation.

No, the event is not a declared emergency event and compensation is not payable.

Under the Biosecurity Act 2015, a movement control order has been put in place – which differs to an emergency order. This is because white spot disease is not a new disease in Australian waters. This was the same in August 2022 during the separate response to the detection in an enclosed prawn facility.

Individual Biosecurity Directions and the control orders issued under the Biosecurity Act 2015 are the appropriate instruments to manage the biosecurity risk and biosecurity impact of White Spot Disease in NSW.

NSW DPI and industry will approach the Australian Government for assistance. The Australian Government supported a significant package to assist prawn farmers and fishers through the Queensland event.

NSW DPI is working closely with industry and FRDC to better manage impacts of White Spot. This includes active extension programs to increase awareness in the industry.

NSW DPI is actively communicating with recreational fishers to stress the importance of never using prawns intended for human consumption as baitand delivering important information  to help protect the prawn industry.

This Control Order applies to everyone who  fishes within the Clarence River Control Zone. including recreational fishers, and who interact with any of the following:

• decapod crustaceans, such as school, tiger and banana prawns, yabbies and pink nippers, shrimp, slipper lobsters, crabs and hermit crabs, or
• polychaete worms, such as beach worms, or
• fittings or equipment that comes into contact with decapod crustaceans or polychaete worms