In order to protect Australia's valuable abalone industry, there is a need to develop specific management strategies which incorporate disease monitoring, detection, response and control measures in both farm and wild stocks. These include the implementation of routine health management procedures and a system for the exclusion of virus. Health management strategies and codes of practice for both farmed and wild abalone harvest sectors and processing plants must be developed to improve productivity of farmed sector and to protect the health status of wild populations of abalone. The application of effective detection and exclusion or control methods incorporates into a workable biosecurity plan to minimise the impacts of this virus.
Final report
In January 2006, a previously unknown herpes‐like virus was identified as being the most likely cause of mass mortalities of abalone (Haliotis spp.) in a number of aquaculture farms in south‐west and central Victoria (Hardy‐Smith, 2006). The disease caused by the virus was named abalone viral ganglioneuritis. The disease was subsequently found in marine waters adjacent to one of the infected farms resulting in mortalities in wild abalone populations. The outbreak of the disease sparked concern about possible long‐term consequences for the abalone industry not only in Victoria, but also in the rest of Australia. There was a clear need to develop specific management strategies which incorporated disease monitoring, detection, response and control measures in both farmed and wild stocks.
This project aims to develop Codes of Practice to standardise and improve the bio‐security measures currently in place in aquaculture farms and in commercial harvesting operations and processors. For completeness, recreational divers and fishers are also included.
In developing these Codes of Practice, a robust and defensible process was undertaken to identify the key issues that need to be addressed by the wild harvest, recreational, aquaculture and processing sectors. These issues were assessed and prioritised at a Risk Assessment Workshop conducted by an expert panel assembled from all Australian states with an abalone industry. The panel included aquatic animal health specialists, representatives from industry and Government officials.
The Risk Assessment Workshop identified the most important issues for each industry sector; control measures were developed, bearing in mind that knowledge of the virus was incomplete. The controls were subsequently developed (in consultation with industry) into Codes of Practice that are comprised of a series of Standard Operating Procedures.
The adoption and implementation of the Codes of Practice by industry will increase bio‐security within the Australian abalone industry and minimise the risk of further outbreaks and the spread of abalone viral ganglioneuritis.
Keywords: Abalone, abalone viral ganglioneuritis, ganglioneuritis, bio‐security, aquatic animal health.