The Control Area in place to manage an outbreak of abalone viral ganglioneuritis (AVG) in wild abalone Victoria's south-west has been updated and now extends just past the western edge of Bridgewater Bay.
Further surveillance this week found that the aquatic disease has spread up to the edge of the western boundary of the Control Area in place at that time.
Effective Saturday 3 July, the Control Area has been expanded west to allow a small buffer from the new detection sites. The new Control Area spans from about one kilometre west of Cape Bridgewater Lookout to Cape Grant in the east.
Victoria's Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Graeme Cooke, said divers collected samples from the western edge of Bridgewater Bay with tests from AgriBio confirming the disease on Friday 2 July.
"Unfortunately but not surprisingly for a disease of this nature, divers found more affected abalone near the western boundary of the Control Area which changed only last week, confirming that the disease is capable of moving.
"It's very disappointing to have to make this small change, but it's a necessary step to limit the spread of the disease to other abalone populations.
"Fortunately, there are still no detections east of Cape Grant, so the Control Area does not impact fishing and boating activities in Portland.
