Ganglioneuritis Virus Outbreak Threatens Abalone Industry

TASMANIA - Tasmania's abalone producers want an audit of biosecurity measures within the industry, after a deadly virus forced the closure of some Victorian abalone farms.

For the first time in Australia, the virus called Ganglioneuritis has been found at four farms in south-west Victoria and in wild abalone stocks off Port Fairy.

Tasmania's abalone industry is worth $100 million a year.

There is no trace of the disease in Tasmanian waters, but the local industry wants an audit of biosecurity measures at processing plants and farms.

Divers have been banned from a 10-kilometre stretch of Victorian coast as testing continues to determine the source of the outbreak.

Source: abc.net.au