Press Releases and Announcements - 08 August 2011
Abalone industry class action moves forward to mediation
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers have launched legal proceedings
against the State of Victoria and an aquaculture farm, Southern
Ocean Mariculture Pty Ltd, for their alleged failure to control a
deadly herpes-like virus which has decimated the state's wild
abalone fishing industry.
Maurice Blackburn general counsel Steven Harris said the State of
Victoria and the aquaculture farm had failed to contain an outbreak
of Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis which escaped into the ocean near
Port Fairy between December 2005 and May 2006.
"We are taking action against Southern Ocean Mariculture Pty Ltd
which operated an abalone farm in Port Fairy and which was the
origin of the outbreak," Mr Harris said.
"Infected abalone was moved from different tanks on the farm and
eventually dead abalone and contaminated tank water was flushed
into the ocean, causing the virus to spread to the wild abalone
population.
"The virus has absolutely decimated the wild abalone population and
in turn has turned upside down the lives of abalone license
holders, divers and workers at abalone processing plants.
"Maurice Blackburn has launched a class action on behalf of 50
license holders, 39 divers and 2 abalone processing plants.
"Abalone fishing is a major economic driver in Victoria's
south-west and the ramifications of the disease have impacted our
clients professionally and financially."
Mr Harris said the disease spread more than 100 kilometres along
the coast from Port Fairy to Cape Otway.
"Fisheries Victoria and Southern Ocean Mariculture had full
knowledge of the disease outbreak and failed to take adequate steps
to protect the wild abalone population," he said.
"The Victorian wild harvest abalone industry is a responsible one
which has taken proactive steps to properly manage the fishery and
is seen as a world leader in sustainable abalone fishing. The
industry has suffered unnecessarily. It is our view the government
response was insufficient, too slow and ineffective."
Maurice Blackburn will be holding a mediation on behalf of its
clients this Thursday (August 11) with legal representatives from
the State of Victoria and SOM.
Media inquiries:
Stephen Moynihan at Maurice Blackburn
T 0419 112 711
E smoynihan@mauriceblackburn.com.au
Maurice Blackburn general counsel Steven Harris
said the State of Victoria and the aquaculture farm had failed to
contain an outbreak of Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis which escaped
into the ocean near Port Fairy between December 2005 and May
2006.
"We are taking action against Southern Ocean Mariculture Pty Ltd
which operated an abalone farm in Port Fairy and which was the
origin of the outbreak," Mr Harris said.
"Infected abalone was moved from different tanks on the farm and
eventually dead abalone and contaminated tank water was flushed
into the ocean, causing the virus to spread to the wild abalone
population.
"The virus has absolutely decimated the wild abalone population
and in turn has turned upside down the lives of abalone license
holders, divers and workers at abalone processing plants.
"Maurice Blackburn has launched a class action on behalf of 50
license holders, 39 divers and 2 abalone processing plants.
"Abalone fishing is a major economic driver in Victoria's
south-west and the ramifications of the disease have impacted our
clients professionally and financially."
Mr Harris said the disease spread more than 100 kilometres along
the coast from Port Fairy to Cape Otway.
"Fisheries Victoria and Southern Ocean Mariculture had full
knowledge of the disease outbreak and failed to take adequate steps
to protect the wild abalone population," he said.
"The Victorian wild harvest abalone industry is a responsible
one which has taken proactive steps to properly manage the fishery
and is seen as a world leader in sustainable abalone fishing.
The industry has suffered unnecessarily. It is our view the
government response was insufficient, too slow and
ineffective."
Maurice Blackburn will be holding a mediation on behalf of its
clients this Thursday (August 11) with legal representatives from
the State of Victoria and SOM.