Jaunary 5, 2007

Australian prawn farmers want immediate ban on foreign shrimps

Queensland's prawn farmers could not afford to wait until the February 21 deadline to have foreign shrimps banned as citing fears their AUS$100 million a year industry could be infected by viruses brought by foreign shrimps.

State Member Jan Jarratt said the industry cannot afford to wait until Biosecurity Australia enacts strong quarantine measures and wants imported raw prawn meat banned immediately, fearing white spot and taura viruses could spread into the state's wild and farm prawn stocks.

Jarratt said action must be taken now, not after February 21 when the industry consultation period ends.