00:00Off the coast of Port Macdonald, divers last February made a grim discovery, a disease
00:08that sent shockwaves through the abalone industry.
00:12Deep down we were thinking hell we hope it doesn't go where it could, you know potential
00:17for disaster and it has unfortunately seemed to continue on its path throughout the entire
00:21fishery here.
00:23Abalone viral ganglioneuritis kills abalone quickly and can spread fast through the water.
00:29Abalone cases of the virus have been found as far up the south east coast as Beachport.
00:35It's now done lasting damage to an internationally recognised fishery.
00:39This industry was the world leader in conservative approach to fishing and to watch that just
00:45collapse is devastating.
00:47The state's primary industries department says the disease can spread up the coast through
00:51contaminated boats and fishing gear.
00:54It's trying to stop the spread of the virus closer to fisheries near Adelaide and the
00:58west coast which are currently free of the disease.
01:01Before reaching Port Macdonald, AVG was prevalent in Victorian waters not far over the South
01:07Australian border.
01:09There the abalone fishery is only just starting to recover.
01:12We went from a 280 ton quota to zero and currently 15 years on we're sort of at about 45 tons.
01:22As the virus heads further up SA's coastline, fishers everywhere are holding their breath.
01:28I'm devastated for the people in the south east that they've gone through the same thing
01:32that we have you know the last 10, 15 odd years.
01:36A seafood staple that could be off the menu.
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