|
Abalone stripped
Sarah Scopelianos
|
|
|
Vin Gannon moves some healthy abalone.
Picture: ANGELA MILNE. |
Divers are stripping reefs of abalone in an attempt to stop the spread of a deadly virus crippling the lucrative industry.
Twenty-four boats carrying 31 divers left Warrnambool yesterday on a mission to remove healthy abalone from a two-kilometre section of reef between Peterborough and Port Campbell.
The virus, ganglioneuritis, appeared in south-west abalone farms more than 18 months ago and spread to the ocean.
Millions of dollars have been wiped off abalone licences and quotas reduced by 170 tonnes.
Harvesting ahead of the virus will create a ``firebreak'' in an attempt to stop the disease from entering the Twelve Apostles Marine Park and other reefs.
Victorian Abalone Divers Association president Vin Gannon said divers from across the central diving zone, which stretches from
Warrnambool to Lakes Entrance, were involved in the harvest which will be processed to pay for the project.
Research divers observed the level of the stocks and some abalone were tagged and moved 15km to see if they survived relocation.
“It is imperative action is taken. In August we were told the virus would go Australia-wide if the virus was not stopped,'' Mr Gannon said.
“We are doing everything to protect what's left.''
Fisheries Victoria executive director Dr Peter Appleford said there was no guarantee the “firebreak method'' would work. He said it would be “a matter of time'' before results were known.
All divers should clean equipment after use to ensure matter from the infected area which spans west of Portland to the Bay of Islands is not spread to uncontaminated reefs.
| 
