South Australia’s abalone industry is on high alert as abalone viral ganglioneuritis (AVG) spreads up the southeast coast, reports ABC News.
First detected off Port MacDonnell, the southernmost town in South Australia, in February 2024, AVG has now been confirmed as far north as Beachport. The virus spreads quickly through water via fishing gear and vessels, making it difficult to contain.
The state’s department of prmary industries and regions is working to prevent the disease from reaching fisheries near Adelaide and the west coast, which for now remain free of AVG.
Australian abalone is exported to Southeast Asia, as well as, to a lesser extent, North America, the UK and Europe. It is the major supplier of wild-caught abalone to international markets, supplying almost 50% of the world’s supply.
