Devastating disease spreads from fish to other marine species at Gladstone, Australia - 20th Nov 2011

Devastating disease spreads from fish to other marine species at Gladstone, Australia - 20th Nov 2011

Image: A near-dead turtle washed up at Gladstone Harbour on Curtis Island. Pic: David Kapernick

The sickness plaguing a central Queensland fishery has spread to prawns and other species.

There is no end in sight to the crisis which has decimated the fishing industry in the burgeoning port of Gladstone.

The State Government has yet to release the full results of tests into a red parasite found in barramundi and sharks.

Now fishermen say the disease has spread to a range of fish as well as prawns and turtles.

A tour of the harbour revealed prawns with pea-sized tumours and deformed fish, a dead turtle as well as several other turtles appearing sick and distressed.

While the Government has denied claims that dozens of turtles were found dead near Curtis Island last weekend, commercial fishermen believe the harbour is sick and dying. Read More