Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00094:schedule:2
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00094
Segment Type: schedule
Provision Reference: sch 2
Character Range: 6196–8421

Schedule 2—Reasons—prawns sourced from exclusive economic zone

Note: See subparagraph 5(b)(i).

 There is a very low risk that WSSV could enter the Australian territory with prawns sourced from within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This very low risk meets Australia's ALOP.
 Prawns sourced from Australia's EEZ are considered either to be free of WSSV or to have a very low prevalence of WSSV.
– Australia's territorial waters are considered free of WSSV. Prawn populations in Australia's territorial waters are often contiguous with prawn populations in the EEZ. It is reasonable to consider that prawns in the EEZ have an equivalent disease status to prawns in Australia's territorial waters or at least a very low prevalence of WSSV. Recently, two consignments of wild prawns caught in Australia and exported to Thailand and China respectively for processing tested negative for WSSV DNA on return to Australia.
– WSSV is a notifiable disease in Australia and has not been reported in prawns from the EEZ. Catching prawns in the EEZ represents at least 17% of Australia's total annual prawn catch (at least 3284 tonnes per annum).
 There have not been any reported outbreaks of WSSV in Australia linked to prawns from the EEZ.
 No evidence has been found linking the Logan River outbreak (see paragraph 5(d) of the principal determination) to prawns caught in the EEZ. The risk of WSSV being present in the EEZ has not increased as a result of the Logan River outbreak.
 In general, WSSV outbreaks are rarely observed in wild prawn populations. Prawns in the wild that are affected by WSSV are considered likely to be eaten by non-susceptible predators, which reduces the risk of spread of the disease. The prevalence of WSSV can vary due to seasonal factors but is generally considered low.
 The EEZ, to the extent that it surrounds Christmas Island extends to within close proximity of Indonesian waters where WSSV is endemic in the aquaculture industry. Prawns sourced from that portion of the EEZ are a potential risk for WSSV. However, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) has confirmed it has never issued a licence for prawning within the Australian Fishing Zone of Christmas Island.