Fisheries Queensland put a temporary closure in place on all fishing in an area centred on Gladstone Harbour while the Queensland Government investigated a condition affecting some locally caught fish. This closure was lifted on Friday 7 October 2011.

Fish sampling and testing

Test results have confirmed red-spot disease on a fish from Port Alma and the parasitic flatworm (skin fluke) on some barramundi caught in the Gladstone area. Find out more about the parasitic flatworm and red-spot disease.

A different parasitic flatworm was identified on sharks. Shell erosion was detected on crabs and prawns, which is due to relatively common bacteria.

Fish sampling conducted by Fisheries Queensland has indicated the number of fish exhibiting lesions or cloudy eyes is decreasing.

• Gladstone fish sampling schedule
• Map of Gladstone fish sampling sites (PDF, 175 kB)

Latest reports

• Fish kill testing summary: Catfish (September 2012) (PDF, 150 kB)
• Gladstone expanded fish health survey report (June/July 2012) (PDF, 362 kB)

Fach sheets on findings

• Mud crab update: Gladstone survey findings

Past reports

• Gladstone expanded fish health survey report (April/May 2012) (PDF, 393 kB)
• Pathology results for fish collected from Gladstone Harbour on 2 March following cyanide discharge (PDF, 111 kB)
• Gladstone fish health survey report (as of 1 March 2012) (PDF, 400 kB)
• Biosecurity Queensland fish health sampling report (March 2012) (PDF, 1.61 MB)
• Gladstone fish health Biosecurity Queensland Gladstone reports (December 2011) (PDF, 4.12 MB)

Other investigations around Gladstone

• Scallop sampling: Bundaberg and Gladstone waters (May 2012) (PDF, 612 kB)

Submitting samples for testing

• Fin fish
• Prawns

Fishing closure lifted Friday 7 October 2011

All commercial, recreational and charter activities were again permitted in the area as of Friday 7 October 2011.

The closure was put in place in September 2011 to ensure that any fish that were potentially unsuitable for human consumption would not enter the food chain.

Find out more about the lifting of the closure (PDF, 228 kB).

Water quality testing

The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection conducted water quality testing and monitoring in the Gladstone area.

Results from water quality analysis and fish testing confirmed fish in Gladstone waters were not considered a food safety or human health issue.

Environmental reports

As part of the Western Basin Dredging and Disposal Project, the Gladstone Ports Corporation makes environmental reports available to the public.

Human health

An investigation by Queensland Health found no link between disease in fish from Gladstone Harbour and its surrounds, and human health. For more information regarding the Queensland Health investigation, see Gladstone Harbour frequently asked questions (FAQs). If you have any health concerns after handling seafood caught in the Gladstone Harbour area, see your GP or contact Queensland Health on 13HEALTH (13 432 584) for advice.

Supply of seafood in the Gladstone region

All seafood that is supplied for human consumption must meet national standards for suitability and food safety. Products affected with lesions or other visible signs of disease or illness should not be filleted, gutted or otherwise processed. Affected product should be isolated and disposed of. Notification should be provided to Safe Food Production Queensland (SFPQ). For more information, visit the SFPQ website. Seafood available through retail outlets continues to be safe to purchase and eat and this is backed by stringent national standards for food safety.

Tips on identifying suitable products are available from SFPQ.

Financial assistance service

The federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) offers a free financial counselling service for primary producers including fishers. The service can help with managing the financial effects of changes in seasonal conditions, natural disasters and the marketplace.

Financial counsellors can help you:

• understand and develop improved financial management
• communicate and negotiate with financial institutions
• identify and assess the financial impact of different options
• compare the viability of various enterprises
• prepare applications for loans and government assistance schemes.

Further information can be found on the federal DAFF website or call 1800 686 175.