Abalone viral ganglioneuritis

Abalone viral ganglioneuritis (AVG) is caused by a herpes virus specific to abalone. It affects their nervous system, causing weakness and eventually death.

The disease can cause high mortalities in both farmed and wild abalone populations. Species known to be susceptible to AVG in Australia are:

  • greenlip abalone (Haliotis laevigata)
  • blacklip abalone (Haliotis rubra)
  • hybrids of these 2 species.

AVG is a notifiable disease. If you see sick abalone or signs of abalone deaths – especially clusters of shells – it must be reported immediately.

AVG in South Australia

AVG was detected in wild abalone at Port MacDonnell in February 2024. A Control Area and Buffer Zone were established to contain the spread of disease through human activity and allow surveillance to identify the extent of the virus.

Restrictions were lifted at 11.59 pm on Wednesday 27 March 2024, with ongoing conditions in place to reduce the risk of the disease spreading to other abalone fishery zones – see SA Government Gazette No. 20, 27 March 2024.

Conditions

Abalone cannot be taken from the area surrounding the original detection site at Breaksea Reef near Port MacDonnell, from Surfers Way to Pointe des Coreaux and around 7 km (approximately 3.8 nautical miles) out to sea – see map of the area prohibited to the take of abalone (PDF 1.4 MB).

All other fishing and aquatic activity is permitted in the Southern Zone, including but not limited to setting and retrieval of rock lobster pots. General rules apply.

Commercial and recreational fishers cannot move equipment that has come into contact with the sea floor in the Southern Zone to other waters without full decontamination.

'Southern Zone' is defined as waters adjacent to South Australia east of the meridian of longitude 139° East and shallower than 30 metres.

Equipment to decontaminate

Diving equipment includes:

  • wetsuits
  • fins
  • masks
  • weight vests and belts
  • hookah gear
  • diving accessories including but not limited to knives, bags and nets.

Fishing equipment includes but is not limited to:

  • rods
  • reels
  • lines
  • hooks
  • sinkers
  • lures
  • jigs
  • bins
  • baskets
  • buckets
  • nets
  • pots
  • bags
  • spear guns
  • knives.

Read the PIRSA guideline – Decontamination requirements for Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis (PDF 150.5 KB)

Read Agriculture Victoria's Code of Practice: Biosecurity control measures for abalone viral ganglioneuritis for detailed information on decontamination. South Australia is currently developing its own Code of Practice.

How to reduce the spread of abalone disease

  • Check: all vessels, fishing, diving and surfing equipment and remove anything including water, sand or seaweed. Check your abalone catch for signs of illness.
  • Clean: boats at home or at a commercial car wash. Wash your wetsuits, fishing and diving equipment with detergent and fresh water.
  • Dry: all boating, fishing and diving equipment completely, preferably in the sun, before heading out into the water again.

The highest risk of spread is through movement of infected abalone product (meat, offal, shells or mucus) or through the water from infected abalone. There is also a risk of it spreading through fishing and diving equipment (including wetsuits, anchors, rock lobster pots and ropes) and by people who have come into contact with infected abalone.

If you've been in or on the ocean, follow the decontamination advice to reduce the spread of aquatic diseases.

Advice for decontaminating boats and equipment

All fishers and boat users in South Australian waters should follow these cleaning guidelines to help reduce the risk of spreading AVG and other aquatic diseases:

  • Check at sea
    While at sea, remove any visible material from equipment and return it to sea at the location of the activity. This includes hoop nets, fishing line and reel, diving gear, the deck, motor and anchor. Before moving rock lobster pots and anchors wash them with fresh or sea water at the location of the activity to remove all external material.
  • Check on land
    Once on land, thoroughly clean equipment with fresh water, removing any remaining sediment, sand and other visible material. Cleaning should take place in an area where none of the washdown can re-enter the marine environment.
  • Check your vessel when you get to shore
    Remove any seaweed or animals and put them in a rubbish bin. Don’t empty your bilge, bait or catch tanks until you wash your boat away from shore.
  • Clean your entire boat and any equipment used at a commercial car wash or at home. Clean it thoroughly from top to bottom with detergent and fresh water. Rinse your boat with fresh water.
  • Wash equipment with detergent, ensuring all surfaces are covered with detergent. Rinse with fresh water.
  • Dry your boat and any fishing or diving equipment fully, preferably in the sun, before you use it again.

Video: What to do when washing your boat

Advice for divers

  • Wash all dive equipment away from the water's edge so that run-off with detergent does not affect the health of our waterways. If you live or have accommodation in the area, you can clean your equipment when you return home.
  • Clean all other equipment in a bucket of fresh water with detergent and leave it for 30 minutes. This includes your mask, snorkel, fins, gloves, weight belt, hood and catch bag, as well as your wetsuit, vest and regulator.
  • Dry all your equipment completely before you go diving again.

Disposal of abalone waste

Abalone shell, meat and gut must not be:

Take your abalone catch home and dispose of the waste with your household rubbish.

Ongoing impacts

Abalone must not be used as bait or berley in South Australia.

Restrictions affect all live (wild or farmed) abalone and fresh abalone product coming into South Australia from interstate, including recreationally caught abalone.

Abalone collected at any time from the Southern Zone cannot be held in the same holding system as:

  • abalone from other South Australian state waters
  • non-abalone marine benthic species including southern rock lobster.

The gazetted restrictions following detection of AVG at Cape Nelson in Victoria, in May 2021, remain in place – see Unprocessed abalone gazette notice requirements.

Exemptions and conditions

Exemptions apply for:

  • stock consigned to fish processors from AVG affected jurisdictions
  • stock consigned directly to fish processors or retail markets, including restaurants, from:
    • accredited abalone farms
    • Western Australia, Northern Territory, New South Wales, and Queensland – which are regarded as being AVG free.

Strict conditions apply for transporting, keeping, and disposing of abalone and abalone waste by fish processors.

Members of the public are only permitted to bring cooked or preserved abalone in sealed packaging into South Australia from interstate.

No abalone sourced from interstate can enter an aquaculture farm or be deposited in SA waters.

How to identify AVG

Signs of the disease can include:

  • high mortality of abalone in an area
  • weakness of abalone attachment
  • edges of the foot curled inwards
  • swollen mouth parts
  • excessive mucus production
  • large number of fresh clean shells.

Left image: curling of the foot (see the yellow arrows). 
Right image: swollen mouth with an everted radula (see the red arrow).
Photos – P Hardy-Smith, www.agriculture.gov.au
Left image: curling of the foot (see the yellow arrows). Right image: swollen mouth with an everted radula (see the red arrow). Photos – P Hardy-Smith, www.agriculture.gov.au

Report suspected exotic species and diseases

Early detection is important to stop the establishment and spread of aquatic pests and diseases – report unusual sightings immediately.

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Fishwatch hotline: 1800 065 522 SA Fishing app
Page last reviewed: 28 Mar 2024

 


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