The spread of abalone virus has forced another section of Victoria’s south-west coastline to be closed for fishing. Fisheries Minister Joe Helper is soon expected to announce the closure between Aire River and White Cliffs for up to three months. It is told that the virus was first found in ocean stocks west of Port Fairy three years ago. This has cost the commercial abalone industry tens of millions of dollars in lost income and jobs. Divers have had their quotas slashed and have had to seek other work along with deckhands and other employees.
It is informed that the area between the Crags and Killarney is already off limits to divers and other fishing industry workers as part of an enforced control system. Lady Julia Percy Island is the only Warrnambool-Portland region still open for abalone harvesting. According to Helper the authority announced new closure in order to minimise the risk of people spreading the virus through abalone harvesting, lobster potting and other fishing activities.
He added that there were early signs abalone stocks around Port Fairy were recovering. Victorian Abalone Divers Association executive officer Vincent Gannon said that results of a scientific survey on the area should be released soon. He told that then it will give a clearer picture of where things are at. Hopefully with the new exclusion the virus will burn itself out, opined Gannon.
