Three Palmers Island prawn farms at the centre of the White Spot outbreak in the Clarence River have entered the final stage of decontamination as part of the NSW Department of Primary Industries DPI eradication response.

The virus, which affects crustaceans and can cause mortalities in farmed prawns, but poses no threat to human health, was first detected at a Palmers Island prawn farm in August 2022.

On February 12 this year, testing confirmed a second prawn farm on the island was infected with White Spot, leading to a temporary control order on the Clarence River Control Zone being implemented on February 16, preventing up to 50 local prawn trawlers from operating on the river.

Then a third detection on April 21 this year at a prawn farm on North Bank Road, Palmers Island, saw the Control Order on the Clarence River extended for two years due to biosecurity regulations.

The extension of the Control Order was a devastating blow for the Clarence prawn trawl industry and trawler operators like Dean Opalniuk, who received no income from prawns this year, where he would usually average $3000 a week in season, leaving him with a business that was worth more than $200,000, now being worthless.

More than 3000 tests were conducted by the DPI in the Clarence River Control Zone with no prawns found to be infected with White Spot.

The NSW Government gave local trawler operators a discount on their management fees, and in June a $21 million White Spot rescue package was announced for the industry, but trawler operators are yet to be informed what compensation they will receive from the announcement.

Some local prawn trawl operators joined a class action against the Australian Government alleging that the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources negligently failed to discharge its biosecurity obligations, which resulted in losses suffered by persons involved in the Australian commercial prawn, seafood and bait industries.

NSW Chief Veterinary Officer, Jo Coombe, said the decontamination and water discharge process is complete at the three Clarence River prawn farms where white spot was detected in early 2023.

“Consumers can continue to safely purchase and enjoy Clarence River prawns and seafood from local seafood suppliers,” Dr Coombe said.

“NSW DPI appreciates the support of affected producers to contain and eradicate white spot on their farms, as we work with industry to implement appropriate biosecurity measures to minimise risk of further spread.

“Now on-farm decontamination activities are finished; prawn farm ponds will be left empty to fallow for 40 days.”

The NSW DPI will conduct ongoing testing and surveillance of prawns and other decapod crustaceans from the Clarence River Control Zone.

Rodney Stevens