Alexandrium health warning
In recent years there have been two unprecedented blooms of toxic dinoflagellate algae, Alexandrium spp., in the Swan and Canning rivers.
Alexandrium algae produce paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) which can be concentrated by filter feeding shellfish. These toxins are known to affect a wide range of species and may bio accumulate, resulting in potential impacts on crabs, fish, birds and mammals.
Human consumption of shellfish containing high levels of PSTs can result in poisoning and may cause death. Freezing and normal cooking processes do not destroy these PSTs.
Please do not eat mussels and remove the head, guts (mustard) and gills from blue swimmer crabs caught by recreational fishers in the Swan and Canning rivers, before freezing, cooking or eating them. All crabs must still be landed and transported whole to your home (your principal place of residence) unless you plan to eat them immediately.
Please see below resources related to Alexandrium algal blooms.
How to clean blue swimmer crabs flyer, available in five languages:
How to clean blue swimmer crabs video
Alexandrium FAQs
Alexandrium algal bloom information
Alexandrium blooms monitoring
Blooming surprise Landscope article March 2021.pdf
Look out for caution signs installed at key Swan Canning Riverpark locations including jetties, traffic bridges, boat ramps and popular fishing locations.
Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis (AVG) in wild abalone in Victoria
Victoria reported the re-occurrence of AVG in wild abalone on 04 May 2021. AVG has been detected in Australia before with previous incidents in Tasmania and Victoria, last reported in 2010.
Victoria has implemented restrictions to assist with limiting the spread of disease. Following the Victorian detection, New South Wales (NSW) detected AVG in abalone held in tanks at some Sydney retailers and actions are underway to eradicate infection from the NSW premises.
Key features of AVG
AVG is a viral disease affecting the nervous system of abalone resulting in weakness and death of the shellfish. There are no known or likely impacts for human health. AVG only affects abalone species.
AVG has not been reported from Western Australian abalone. If introduced into Western Australia (WA), AVG could have a severe impact on abalone in WA and WA’s important commercial, recreational and aquaculture abalone sectors.
To prevent introduction of AVG into WA, the import of live abalone into WA from Victoria and other States is not permitted. It’s also illegal to use abalone meat or any abalone material as fishing bait in WA.
Look out for and report disease signs in abalone
The detection in Victoria was made by a diver who noticed a cluster of dead abalone and reported their concerns. This shows the critical role industry and community members play in monitoring our aquatic environments for disease and pest threats, and reporting anything unusual.
Signs of AVG in abalone
You may see patches of weak and/or dead abalone that are easily removed from or fall off the reef and cannot right themselves.
There may be clusters where there are only empty shells present (evidence of abalone that have died and been scavenged)
In some abalone you may see swelling of the mouth parts or edges of the foot curling inwards, leading to exposure of clean shiny shell, but this is more common on farms.
How to report
Report any signs of disease in abalone to the WA FishWatch 24-hour hotline on 1800 815 507.
You may be asked to collect some whole abalone in a sealed plastic bag or container and record the exact location where the samples were collected. Samples should be kept refrigerated but not frozen.
Download or read the AVG fact sheet to learn more about:
What is AVG?
What are the signs of AVG in abalone?
How is AVG spread?
What you can do to help protect WA
What to do if you see a sick abalone
More information about AVG
Other biosecurity alerts
Current biosecurity alerts are listed below. Fishers are asked to look out for these pests and to report evidence of them to FishWatch.
Marine pest alerts
Asian green mussel
Asian paddle crab
Black-striped mussel
European green crab
Japanese kelp
Northern pacific seastar
Redclaw crayfish
Spangled perch
Disease alerts
White spot disease in prawns
Indistinct river shrimp
Asian green mussel