Abalone Disease

Update: March 27, 2025

Abalone disease is active in South Australia, and Victorians travelling across the border to fish or dive need to do their part to stop the potential spread of the virus. The disease is easily transferred between waterways, and has the potential to decimate stocks of this valuable shellfish.

If you’ve fished in South Australia’s southern zone (marine waters between the Victorian border and the River Murray mouth), here’s what you need to do:

• You must wash your boat, trailer and any fishing equipment that has been used in South Australia’s Southern Zone before you re-enter Victoria. The best way to do this is to follow the Check, Clean and Dry steps and use clean, soapy water at a car wash, accommodation or somewhere away from the water’s edge
• You must not take abalone within South Australia’s southern zone, which is closed to all abalone fishing
• You must not possess unprocessed abalone from South Australian waters anywhere in Victoria

Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis (AVG, also known as Abalone disease) is a viral disease which affects the nervous system of abalone and results in the foot curling up, swelling of the mouth, leading to weakness and death of abalone. There are no effects on human health.

To see what a sick abalone looks like, view the video below. If you find an abalone that you think is sick, anywhere in Victoria, please call the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

On Thursday 6 March 2025, Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA) announced a complete closure to Abalone Fishing (Recreational and Commercial) in waters from the River Murray Mouth to the Victorian Border. This closure is in place for 12 months. For up to date information on SA's abalone disease response, click here.

In response to the South Australian detection, the Victorian Fisheries Authority has in place a Fisheries Notice which requires all fishers and boaters to Check, Clean and Dry their dive equipment, fishing and boating gear before re-entering Victoria from South Australia. The Notice also prohibits the possession of unprocessed abalone from South Australia anywhere in Victoria and imposes several conditions on Victorian-licensed commercial rock lobster fishers.

These measures are in place to prevent the potential spread of the virus into Victorian waters.

How to stop the spread

To reduce the risk of future spread it is important to remain vigilant to signs of this virus. Checking, cleaning and drying your gear and boat is the best way to reduce the risk. To find out more, click here.

Across Victoria, you cannot:

• Be in possession of shucked abalone on, or near Victorian waters, which therefore prohibits the use of any part of the abalone as bait.
• Shuck or clean abalone until being prepared to eat, at the location they will be eaten.
• Dispose of abalone shell or gut back into the ocean. You must use your rubbish bin for disposal.

If you find an abalone that you think is sick, anywhere in Victoria, please call the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

A Code of Practice is also available to people wanting to put steps into place to help stop the spread of AVG in Victoria. This Code of Practice, developed by Agriculture Victoria, aims to strengthen and protect the abalone industry. You can find the code of Practice by clicking here.