Prawn disease threatens cafés and restaurants
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A virulent foreign prawn disease is now threatening to slash profits of restaurants and cafes around Australia.
Potentially, the white spot disease which has devastated foreign prawn industries could cost eateries $24,000 in profits each.
With the prospect of the disease spreading into New South Wales and Queensland, it could also see the price of prawns skyrocketing.
The problem is that trawlers are now scouring the ocean depths for obscure prawn species to meet the demand with bans on imported prawns already forcing prices sky high.
Top NSW prawn importers De Costi says it’s now bringing in deepwater species of prawns from Western Australia to meet ever-increasing demand which they say is now inundating them.
And some of the prawns they are bringing in are unusual. One still had a hook on its back.
‘De Costi Seafoods sales manager Frank Theodore says they are being served shelled and headed rather than whole.
“They are going on pizzas and pasta. They have a fresh, juicy flavour,” Mr Theodore told the Daily Telegraph.
The virus, which can also affect crabs and lobsters, was first spotted in June last year when it was killing Queensland prawns.
And with fisherman using imported raw prawns as bait, the disease has been introduced into rivers and it has now spread to prawn farms.
Restaurant and Caterers Australia has warned the government it will have a huge impact on the industry at a time when prawn prices have increased 100 per cent, dragging down profits by 25 per cent with an average $23,900 annual profit fall.
NSW Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair is concerned about the disease entering NSW.
““Due to the proximity of the current outbreak area in southeast Queensland, the risk of white spot disease entering NSW is significant,” Mr Blair told The Sunday Telegraph. “NSW DPI has ... commenced testing of wild crustaceans in the northeast of the state. However, every possible precaution is being taken to protect our state’s $21 million prawn industry.”
by Leon Gettler, May 1st 2017
