Deadly Abalone Virus

[knotty panda]

http://www.theage.com.au/national/d...threat-to-melbourne-waters-20100213-nyj2.html

Does anyone have any information on this? How likely is this to spread?

 

[BeadersSecret]

Its almost inevitable for it to eventually reach the Melbourne area - but if people follow even half the protocols that are recomended its going to take some time to get here - its taken ~4 years to spread from western Vic to Cape Otway. (The abalone divers association have a lot of info on their associations site http://www.vada.com.au/

 

[purlgurl]

Its almost inevitable for it to eventually reach the Melbourne area - but if people follow even half the protocols that are recomended its going to take some time to get here - its taken ~4 years to spread from western Vic to Cape Otway. (The abalone divers association have a lot of info on their associations site http://www.vada.com.au/

I wonder if there are ever any abalone pearls harvested this close to home, or are they the eating variety only? Can they be collected by anyone with a boat & luck? How strictly are the Fisheries Department laws enforced?

 

[BeadersSecret]

I think the abalone pearls would be a bit too crunchy to be called an eating variety

The nearest "harvesting" I am aware of is Rob's "Moana Pearls" just across the water in NZ.

Can anyone collect them? - yeeeesssss buuuttttt - There's very strict controls - no more then 5 abalone can be taken (or be in your posession) - and these can only be taken on nominated days each month (there's ~60 days per year that its legal) and you must have a fishing licence.

 

[knotty panda]

It doesn't appear anyone has done any research into wild populations at sea. I haven't had time to read all of the very helpful link Bernadette posted yet.

 

[BeadersSecret]

Actually there is a huuuge amount of research on both wild and farmed populations - The industry is worth quite a considerable amount (directly and indirectly) - and this disease has had the industry and researchers on the hop for a number of years now - unfortunately the virulence of the virus makes it a bit tricky for the researchers as apparently once the abalone is exposed - it is only a matter of hours until death occurs.

 

[GemGeek]

What a sad thing to lose so many lovely abalones.