July 24, 2007

Australia warns of imported shrimp bringing in virus
 

Anglers and fishermen using prawns for bait may be introducing a pathway for foreign shrimp diseases to find its way into Australia's aquaculture farms., the Australian Farmers Association said.

The association's executive officer Scott Walter said random testing of supermarket prawns last year revealed all were carrying one or more diseases that would threaten Australia's wild and farmed crustaceans.

Interim quarantine conditions tightening disease-testing standards for the importation of raw prawns and prawn products are expected this week.

Australia has aimed to implement a Import Risk Analysis since 2000, when uncooked imported prawns were used as feed for mud crabs and prawns caused White Spot Syndrome Virus to break out, Walter said.