White spot disease movement restrictions
Movement restrictions are in place to prevent the spread of white spot disease. Penalties apply if you breach these restrictions.
Do not move the following items from the restricted area unless you cook them first. Freezing does not destroy the virus.
- Prawns
- Yabbies
- Marine worms
- Crustaceans (other than those listed as exempt)
Restricted area
The restricted area extends from Caloundra to the New South Wales border (following a line 100m off the eastern coasts of Bribie, Moreton and Stradbroke Islands) and west to Ipswich.
Use of bait prawns
You must not take prawns, yabbies or worms sourced from the white spot disease restricted area out of the restricted area.
To avoid accidentally spreading the disease, you must consider where your bait comes from before using it. Always use locally sourced, Australian, wild-caught prawns, yabbies or worms from a quality bait supplier, or catch your own close to where you intend to fish.
Do not use prawns purchased from supermarkets for human consumption as bait. If you use these prawns, you may unknowingly introduce serious diseases into natural waterways.
Exemption for crabs, lobsters and bugs
Crabs, lobsters and bugs are exempt from the restrictions and may be removed from the restricted area. These animals are caught and sold for the sole purpose of being eaten, so the risk of them being returned to natural waterways and spreading the white spot virus is negligible.
The exemption applies to:
- spanner crabs
- three-spotted crabs
- blue swimmer crabs
- mud crabs
- red champagne lobsters
- slipper lobsters
- tropical rocklobsters
- red claws
- bugs.
Further information
- Report suspected cases of white spot disease to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23 or via our online reporting page
- Read the latest white spot disease eUpdates.
- Follow Biosecurity Queensland on Facebook and Twitter.