{"id":214741,"date":"2018-07-31T12:47:48","date_gmt":"2018-07-31T02:47:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=214741"},"modified":"2020-07-29T09:44:29","modified_gmt":"2020-07-28T23:44:29","slug":"10000-fine-for-raw-prawns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2018\/07\/31\/10000-fine-for-raw-prawns\/","title":{"rendered":"$10,000 Fine For Raw Prawns"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A raw prawn showing the distinctive markings of white spot disease (Photo: DAF)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

July 31, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

A bait supplier who moved contaminated raw prawns outside the movement restriction area and sold them to a bait shop in the Warwick region has been fined $10,000 in the Brisbane Magistrates Court.<\/p>\n

The magistrate said the penalty should send a clear message to other industry operators and the public warning them that they will be punished if they breach a Movement Control Order.<\/p>\n

Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said the prawns – which tested positive to white spot virus – were collected from the retail outlet by a government employee and sent to the Biosecurity Sciences Laboratory for testing and Australian Animal Health Laboratory for further confirmation.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce the bait prawns tested positive for white spot syndrome virus all at-risk prawns associated with the consignment were immediately traced and removed from sale,\u201d Mr Furner said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also conducted surveillance in local rivers and dams in the area with all tests returning negative results.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is very lucky that the consignment was detected quickly and the bait recalled, otherwise someone could have unknowingly spread white spot disease to new waterways in the area.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cCommercial bait suppliers operating in the white spot disease restricted area should take heed from this and realise it is a criminal offence to move raw prawns, yabbies and marine worms out of the area.<\/p>\n

The defendant pleaded guilty to charges of failing to comply with a movement control order.<\/p>\n

The restrictions are in place from Caloundra to the NSW border, and west to Ipswich for prawns, yabbies and marine worms.<\/p>\n

Anyone who suspects white spot disease should contact Biosecurity Queensland on 13-25-23.<\/p>\n