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| Abalone Viral GanglioneuritisCurrent situation in Tasmania
What is AVG?
What does AVG look like?
How does AVG spread?
Why is AVG a significant risk to Tasmania?
What can you do to help prevent AVG?
Contacts
Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis (AVG) has been detected in abalone at a processing plant in southern Tasmania. This is not the same processing plant as was involved in the AVG incursion in 2008.In the current case, lab test results found histopathological evidence of AVG in 13 out of 20 abalone taken from the processing facility. The processing facility has a recycling water system to manage waste water. As a precaution, that water is currently all being disinfected prior to discharge. A program has been developed for decontamination of the facility.
Traceback from the premises has not given any clear indication of a likely source of the infection, although it is believed to have been introduced from wild harvested Tasmanian abalone.
The extensive surveillance of the wild fisheries done during the AVG response last year, and ongoing surveillance done by professional abalone divers since, have found no evidence of the disease in the wild.
At this stage emergency disease management procedures are being implemented to contain the disease at the processing plant, however the Department will not be mounting a Statewide emergency disease response, as we did last year. Instead DPIPWE is working with industry to accelerate the introduction of an industry biosecurity plan to limit the spread of any disease that may be occurring in wild abalone. This program commenced in April 2008 in response to the AVG outbreak in Victoria.
We have asked the abalone industry to be especially vigilant for any signs that might suggest AVG and to ensure they report anything suspicious immediately.
This website will be updated if or when any significant new information comes to hand.
Please note that the restrictions that were applied to abalone fishing in northern Bass Strait and the King Island fishery before the 2008 AVG incursion remain in place.
Also, the ban on using abalone viscera (i.e. guts) as bait in the wrasse fishing industry remains in place.
- AVG is a viral disease that affects the nervous system of abalone.
- Mortality rates have been high in Victorian wild stocks, but have not occurred in Tasmanian wild stocks.
- It affects both blacklip and greenlip abalone and hybrids of the two.
- AVG has no known effects on human health.
- The first reported case of AVG in Australia was detected in waters off the Victorian coast in 2006. A similar disease occurs in several overseas countries.
 - Abalone with protruding mouth parts; and / or
- Abalone with the edges of the foot curling inwards, exposing clean shiny shells; and / or
- Abalone showing signs of stiffness or rigour in the wild, failing to right themselves if inverted.
- In the wild populations, the presence of fresh clean shells or shell with meat still in could indicate recent mortalities.
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In 2008, the four diseased abalone found at the processing plant were characterised by 'hard fish', with the abalone appearing to go into rigid spasms.
The virus can spread from abalone to abalone through physical contact or sharing water with other abalone. It can also be spread to healthy abalone by offal, mucus, shells, contaminated fishing equipment or people who have been handling abalone. The mucus from abalone is thought to be the main vector in which the disease can spread.
The virus is thought to only survive a short time unprotected in the water column or out of water.
Tasmania's wild abalone fishery is the biggest in the world, with around 25% of the world annual harvest. It also supports a very active recreational fishery, involving around 12,500 people. Apart from the environmental consequences, an outbreak of AVG in Tasmania could also have a major impact on the economy and on recreational opportunities.
The virus only survives a short time in the water so the most likely method of disease spread is through direct contact between infected abalone (including offal, mucus, shells, contaminated fishing equipment or people) and healthy abalone.
- Keep a close watch for signs of the disease and report any signs to the DPIPWE Disease Watch Hotline 1800 675 888 (24-hours) even if you are not sure.
- Do not move abalone between locations, including shells and offal. Take your whole catch home (it is illegal to shuck abalone at sea) and dispose of the waste and shell with your household rubbish. It is illegal to use abalone viscera as fishing bait.
- Keep your fishing gear, dive gear and boat clean and disinfected with detergent. This includes catch bags, gloves, knives, measuring devices, wetsuits, buoyancy vests, masks, regulators, tanks, boats and people who have come into contact with abalone. By thoroughly cleaning all fishing equipment and allowing it to dry in the sun you can prevent the spread of many aquatic diseases and marine pests, including AVG. Please refer to, and use, the AVG Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols.
Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis Brochure
Recreational Abalone Fishing
Commercial Abalone Fishery
To report any signs of AVG, phone the DPIPWE Disease Watch Hotline (24hrs) phone: 1800 675 888
For general information
Recreational fishers - contact the Recreational Sea Fishing Line on (03) 6233 7042
Commercial fishers -contact Kevin Ellard on 0418 131 212 
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