A NSW Government website

NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Aquatic biosecurity risk review: Application for a biosecurity permit from a land-based abalone farm in central Victoria

Background

Abalone viral ganglioneuritis (AVG) is a viral disease which affects the nervous system of abalone and results in curling of the foot, swelling of the mouth, weakness and death of abalone. It affects both blacklip and greenlip abalone and hybrids and has been detected and caused mortality events in Victoria wild and farmed abalone and Tasmanian abalone processors and farms. AVG has also been detected in South Australian wild abalone populations. AVG is not known to occur in wild abalone stocks in NSW.

AVG is listed as Prohibited Matter under the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015. If introduced to NSW, AVG could have substantial impacts on the wild abalone capture industry (wild fishery). For this reason, controls on the importation of live abalone from Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia have been established under the Biosecurity (Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis) Control Order.

Movements of live abalone into NSW from Tasmanian land-based abalone farms are currently allowed under specified conditions including participation in the nationally endorsed Abalone Health Accreditation Program (AHAP). The AHAP program is consistent with recommendations made by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) to establish AVG free compartments and for the safe movement of abalone between states or production premises.

Imports from Victorian land-based farms are restricted  under the Biosecurity (Abalone viral ganglioneuritis) Control Order 2024 with a permit process in place to facilitate rigorous risk assessment and application of appropriate conditions on a case-by-case basis.

Risk Analysis

NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has completed a risk analysis to assess the potential for introduction of AVG to NSW wild abalone populations through the movement of live abalone from a Victorian abalone farm for human consumption that is located approximately 3km of an abalone processor. Under Victorian regulations, the processor is required to undertake treatment of wastewater by chlorination to minimise biosecurity risks to the environment and nearby aquaculture.

The risk analysis concluded that the risk of AVG introduction into wild NSW abalone populations is low provided mitigation measures are applied.

These conclusions were based on:

  • Historical and current surveillance for AVG in the Victorian central and western abalone zone by Department of Agriculture Victoria show that AVG has not been detected east of Cape Otway.
  • Land-based abalone farms operate in a semi-open environment with mitigation measures available to reduce the risks of AVG entering the farm or being transferred through movements of stock.
  • The farm is accredited under the Abalone Health Accreditation Program and has been audited and completed required sentinel testing.
  • Chlorination, as applied at the nearby processor, has been shown to be an effective method of inactivating AVG. This is audited by Victorian government.

Outcome

Consultation on this proposal is now closed with all comments received considered as part of the review process.

An Individual Biosecurity permit will be issued to the central Victorian abalone farm to import abalone into NSW for human consumption under the following conditions:

  • No live abalone, other than those produced at the farm, can come in contact with the abalone that are to be shipped to NSW.
  • Abalone are produced and handled in accordance with the Biosecurity (Abalone viral ganglioneuritis) Control Order 2024 and all mitigation measures as applied to Tasmanian farmed product are adhered to by the farm (other than the requirement to be located no closer than 3km within an abalone processor) including:
    • Completion of a Record of Movement form that is submitted to NSW DPIRD prior to movement of live abalone.
    • Imported stock is accompanied by the Record of Movement form.
    • The farm participates in the Abalone Health Accreditation Program and conducts testing as outlined in Schedule 2 of the control order.
    • The live abalone is transported in a manner that prevents it coming into contact with live abalone, or water that has held abalone, from a location other than the source farm.
    • That the live abalone enters NSW in fully enclosed, disinfected containers, directly into NSW, via a designated, isolated area of a processor in the enclosed container, or via a processor compliant with Schedule 3 of the Control Order.
  • Recent data is provided to show evidence that surveillance in the vicinity of the farm has been undertaken and no positive cases were detected.
  • Ongoing surveillance data must be supplied at least once every six months (laboratory investigation or photography/video footage).
  • Nearby seafood processors are also audited annually by Victorian government to confirm they continue to uphold appropriate biosecurity standards.