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Disease Incidents
Disease incidents do occur within Australia. Fortunately, Australia has been able to minimise the number of reportable incidents occurring in the seas off our coastline. These incidents have been handled in the most effective and efficient manner to protect native species from further infection. Information gathered from these outbreaks has been vital in the prevention of future risks.
Abalone Disease
Since December 2005, abalone viral ganglioneuritis (AVG) has affected wild and farmed abalone in some parts of western Victoria. The disease, which had not been reported in Australia previously, was eliminated from farmed abalone, but is now considered endemic in some wild abalone populations in the state.
The Aquatic Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases (CCEAD) monitored developments in the AVG incident. In late 2006, CCEAD stood down its involvement and referred the issue to the Aquatic Animal Health Committee, because the matter had become one of on-going management rather than emergency response.
The Victorian Government continues to manage the incident locally. For more information on the disease and the Victorian Government’s response see the Department of Primary Industries Victoria website.
Although AVG has occurred only in Victoria, the disease presents a threat to abalone fisheries and aquaculture nationally. The production value of these industries was estimated at $231.4 million in 2006-07 (ABARE Commodities Statistics Dec 2007). DAFF is contributing to a national strategic approach to the management of this disease, for example, through the development of an AQUAVETPLAN disease strategy manual and support for the development of an emergency disease response agreement for the abalone industry.