Summary

This impact evaluation summarises the outcomes of CRCNA project: A.3.2021044 – Demonstrating the impact of prawn viruses, aquaculture production. 

The project strengthened biosecurity capability in Australia’s prawn aquaculture sector by improving understanding of the viral pathogens affecting farmed tiger prawns in northern Australia. Led by James Cook University, the project investigated the impacts of key pathogens on prawn survival, growth and health, while also examining how environmental conditions such as temperature and salinity influence disease outbreaks. The work addressed a significant knowledge gap in pathogen surveillance and disease risk management for the sector.

The project developed updated pathogen reference strains and piloted the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring to detect pathogens in water samples as a faster and lower-cost alternative to conventional tissue testing. This has improved disease surveillance capability, strengthened farm biosecurity decision-making and created new opportunities for real-time pathogen monitoring in aquaculture systems.

Expected longer-term impacts include reduced disease risk, improved farm productivity, lower pathogen surveillance costs, stronger breeding programs for disease-resistant prawns and continued research investment in aquatic animal health innovation. At the time of assessment, the project had supported adoption of eDNA monitoring by three prawn farms, delivered an estimated 85% reduction in surveillance costs and leveraged more than $1.35 million in follow-on research investment.