Bait supplier cops $10k fine for moving raw prawns

A GOLD COAST bait supplier has been hit with a $10,000 fine for the sale of raw prawns which tested positive for white spot disease.

The man was fined in Brisbane Magistrates Court yesterday after he transported prawns outside the movement restriction area and sold them to a bait shop in the Warwick region.

The magistrate said the penalty should send a clear message to other industry operators and the public that they will be punished if they breach a movement control order.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said the prawns 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. “Once 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,” Mr Furner said.

“We also conducted surveillance in local rivers and dams in the area with all tests returning negative results.

The defendant pleaded guilty to charges of failing to comply with a movement control order, which was made under the Biosecurity Act 2014.