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 – report it immediately to the Fishwatch hotline.
AVG in South Australia
AVG was detected in wild abalone at Port MacDonnell in February 2024. Following an initial response and surveillance activities to establish the extent of the virus in the area, conditions were implemented to reduce the risk of the disease spreading to other abalone fishery zones.
Since then, the virus has continued to spread in the Southern Zone. While the fishery was initially able to continue operating through practising good biosecurity measures to mitigate human-induced spread of the disease, recent SARDI survey results and industry observations indicates losses of up to 96% of abalone in some areas. The available evidence has now forced the difficult decision to close all abalone fishing in the Southern Zone to provide depleted stocks every opportunity to rebuild as quickly as possible.
Closure of the Southern Zone abalone fishery
The take of any abalone (commercial or recreational) in waters from the mouth of the River Murray to the Victorian Border is prohibited from 5 pm on Thursday 6 March 2025.
The closure will remain in place initially for 12 months to support stock recovery under a notice approved under section 79 of the Fisheries Management Act 2007 – see The South Australian Government Gazette No. 13, Thursday 6 March 2025, p. 260.
Due to the abalone growth cycle, it is highly likely that this closure will be extended.
The closure has been activated with the support of the abalone industry and RecFish SA on the basis of observations of AVG-infected abalone throughout the whole zone. Preliminary results from recent SARDI surveys indicate losses of up to 96% of abalone stock in some areas.
The 'Southern Zone' is defined as waters adjacent to South Australia east of the meridian of longitude 139⁰ East and shallower than 30 metres.
Decontamination requirements for any diving and fishing equipment and anchors that may have come in contact with the sea floor in the Southern Zone remain in place to mitigate the risk of spread of AVG to the other abalone fisheries in South Australia.
See the code of practice below for further guidance on fishing protocols, decontamination of gear and movement of abalone.
Diving and fishing equipment to decontaminate
Diving and fishing 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.
Code of practice
The Biosecurity Control Measures for Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis – Code of Practice () sets out the standard procedures to allow for fishing activities in South Australian waters.
The procedures described apply to:
- Abalone fisheries (Southern Zone, Central Zone, Western Zone)
- Rock Lobster fisheries (Northern, Southern)
- fish processors
- recreational fishing
- vessel movement.
This document provides good biosecurity practices to support fishers to reduce the risk of the spread and impact of AVG within the abalone fishing zones of South Australia while allowing for responsible fishing activities to continue where possible.
The procedures described apply to all South Australian waters (unless specific areas are described).
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 in the Southern Zone, you must adhere to the requirements for decontamination as required under the Livestock Act notice,
If you've been in the ocean anywhere else, you are encouraged to decontaminate as per the code of practice.
Advice for decontaminating boats and equipment
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.
Advice for divers
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
Disposal of abalone waste
Abalone shell, meat and gut must not be:
- dumped into the sea
- used as fishing bait or berley.
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.
