Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search

Help for those affected by flood

Visit recovery.gov.au.

Close
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Agriculture and land
    Agriculture and land Building stronger and more sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and land care.
    • Animal health
    • Farming, food and drought
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
    • Climate change and agriculture
    • Plant health
    • Drought and rural support
    • Mouse infestation advice
    Xylella

    Protect against unwanted plant pests

    Our biosecurity system helps protects us. Everyone has a role in supporting our biosecurity system.

    Find out more

  • Biosecurity and trade
    Biosecurity and trade Lowering biosecurity risks to Australia, and assisting industry to accelerate growth towards a $100 billion agricultural sector by 2030.
    • Aircraft, vessels and military
    • Biosecurity policy
    • Cats and dogs
    • Exporting
    • Importing
    • Pests, diseases and weeds
    • Public awareness and education
    • Trade and market access
    • Travelling or sending goods to Australia
    Brown marmorated stink bug

    BMSB Seasonal Measures

    Australia has strengthened seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB.

    View our seasonal measures

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
    • Our science strategy
    Abares

    ABARES Insights

    Get 'snapshots’ of agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries, or analysis of key issues.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We enhance our agricultural industries and trade, and manage the threat of biosecurity risks to Australia.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Contact us
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • Payments
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Our department has changed

    Our department has changed

    Learn more about our roles and responsibilities.

    Find out more

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Pests, diseases and weeds
  4. Aquatic animal diseases
  5. Disease Watch: Aquatic Animal Health Awareness
  6. Nodavirus

Sidebar first - Pests diseases weeds

  • Pests, Diseases and Weeds
    • Report a pest or disease concern
    • Animal pests and diseases
      • Avian Influenza or Bird Flu
        • Bird biosecurity
        • Global avian influenza outbreak situation update
        • Information for recreational shooters
      • Ehrlichiosis in dogs
      • Emergency and Exotic Animal Diseases - Bulletins and Alerts
      • Equine Influenza Inquiry - the Government's response
      • Foot-and-mouth disease
        • A review of Australia's preparedness for the threat of foot-and-mouth disease
          • National foot-and-mouth disease vaccination policy
        • Potential for wind-borne spread of FMD in Australia
      • International arrangements for emergency animal disease outbreaks
      • Japanese encephalitis
      • Japanese encephalitis information for veterinarians
      • Keeping African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease out of Australia
        • Non-English speaking background communities and swill feeding project
      • Lumpy skin disease
      • National List of Notifiable Animal Diseases
      • National List of Reportable Diseases of Aquatic Animals
      • State and Territory Notifiable Animal Diseases lists
      • Wildlife Exotic Disease Preparedness Program
      • White nose syndrome
    • Aquatic animal diseases
    • Bees and bee pests and diseases
      • Honey bee and pollination continuity strategy
        • Statement of research and development priorities
      • Honey bees, crop pollination and varroa mite frequently asked questions
      • Status of Asian honey bee in Australia
    • Exotic weeds
    • Forests and timber: a field guide to exotic pests and diseases
    • Fruit flies in Australia
      • Managing fruit flies in Australia
        • Sterile Insect Technique use in Australia
      • The Smart Fruit Fly Management Measure
        • Fruit fly economic studies
        • Strengthening Australia’s Fruit Fly System Research Program
        • Technical and scientific projects and activities
    • Locusts
      • Australian locusts
        • Locust and grasshopper identification guide
          • Description of adults
            • 1. Australian Plague Locust: Chortoicetes terminifera
            • 2. Spur-throated locust: Austracris guttulosa
            • 3. Migratory locust: Locusta migratoria
            • 4. Small plague grasshopper: Austroicetes cruciata
            • 5. Other Austroicetes species
            • 6. Eastern plague grasshopper: Oedaleus australis
            • 7. Yellow winged locust: Gastrimargus musicus
            • 8. Bermius brachycelus and other Bermius species
            • 9. Giant or Hedge grasshopper: Valanga irregularis
            • 10. Heteropternis obscurella
            • 11. Peakesia hospita and other species
            • 12. Urnisa guttulosa
            • 13. Aiolopus thalassinus
            • 14. Caledia captiva
            • 15. Wingless grasshopper: Phaulacridium vittatum
          • Description of nymphs
            • 1. Australian Plague Locust: Chortoicetes terminifera (nymph)
            • 2. Spur-throated locust: Austracris guttulosa (nymph)
            • 3. Migratory locust: Locusta migratoria (nymph)
            • 4. Small plague grasshopper: Austroicetes cruciata (nymph)
            • 5. Other Austroicetes species (nymph)
            • 6. Eastern plague grasshopper: Oedaleus australis (nymph)
            • 7. Yellow winged locust: Gastrimargus musicus (nymph)
            • 8. Bermius brachycelus and other Bermius species (nymph)
            • 9. Giant or Hedge grasshopper: Valanga irregularis (nymph)
            • 10. Heteropternis obscurella (nymph)
            • 11. Peakesia hospita and other species (nymph)
            • 12. Urnisa guttulosa (nymph)
            • 13. Aiolopus thalassinus (nymph)
            • 14. Caledia captiva (nymph)
            • 15. Wingless grasshopper: Phaulacridium vittatum (nymph)
        • About locusts
        • Australian plague locust
        • History of locust and grasshopper outbreaks in Australia
        • Links to related websites
        • Migratory locust
        • Spur throated locust
      • Current locust situation
      • Role of the Australian Plague Locust Commission
        • APLC documents
        • Area of operation
        • APLC activities
        • APLC Commissioners
      • Information for landholders
        • APLC strategic control - commencing or ceasing operations
        • APLC offices and contacts
        • Locust control agents-livestock and crop residues
        • Reporting locusts
      • Locust bulletins
        • Terms and Descriptions used in the Locust Bulletin
    • Marine pests
      • Marine Pest Sectoral Committee
      • Review of National Marine Pest Biosecurity
        • Discussion paper submissions
        • Frequently asked questions
        • Marine pest network
        • Issues paper submissions
      • Emergency Marine Pest Plan
    • Pest animals and weeds in Australia
      • Supporting Communities Manage Pest Animals and Weeds Program
      • Supporting Australia’s regions to manage established pest animals and weeds
      • Control tools and technologies for established pest animals and weeds competitive grants programme
      • Environment and Invasives Committee
      • Funding innovation to tackle pest animals and weeds
      • National Carp Control Plan
    • Plant pests and diseases
      • National action plans
      • Barley stripe rust
      • Begomoviruses and vectors
      • Brown marmorated stink bug
      • Citrus canker
      • Cyst nematodes of grains and vegetables
      • Exotic bees
      • Exotic stem borers of sugarcane
      • Exotic tree nematodes
      • Fire blight
      • Fruit flies
      • Giant African snail
      • Guava (eucalyptus) rust
      • Grape phylloxera
      • Spongy moths
      • Hessian flies
      • Huanglongbing
      • Internal and external mites of bees
      • Khapra beetle
        • Urgent actions to protect against khapra beetle
          • Requirements for high-risk plant products to protect against khapra beetle
          • Requirements for other-risk plant products to protect against khapra beetle
          • Requirements for sea containers to protect against khapra beetle
          • Requirements for seeds for sowing to protect against khapra beetle
        • Khapra beetle in imported goods
        • Khapra beetle bulletin
        • The khapra beetle story
      • Karnal bunt
      • Leaf miner
      • Panama disease tropical race 4
      • Plum pox virus
      • Potato cyst nematode
      • Potato late blight
      • Sudden oak death
      • Xylella and exotic vectors
        • International Symposium on Xylella fastidiosa
      • Russian wheat aphid
      • Tobamoviruses
      • Exotic invasive ants
      • Ug99
      • Wheat stem sawfly
      • Zebra chip
    • Protect your animals and plants from pests and disease
      • Biosecurity engagement
      • Bird biosecurity
        • Avian Influenza (bird flu)
        • Bird flu and our health
        • National Biosecurity Manual - Exhibition poultry
        • National Farm Biosecurity Manual - Poultry production
        • Protect your birds against bird flu and diseases
        • National Water Biosecurity Manual - Poultry production
      • Plate it. Don’t plant it.
      • Vital information for travelling farm workers
      • Biosecurity videos and audio
      • Biosecurity and farmers' markets

Biosecurity materials for Nodavirus

​​Nodaviruses are microscopic agents that can potentially cause major problems for finfish aquaculture. Some finfish species may be highly susceptible to infection, resulting in significant commercial losses. Awareness of the viruses and the disease signs can assist in preventing its spread. These materials outline the biosecurity measures people can take to manage the risks of disease caused by nodavirus infection.

Nodavirus and Biosecurity: Be alert to avoid alarm

What is Biosecurity?

Programs, procedures and actions you take to prevent the outbreak, or limit the spread of nodavirus and other infectious diseases in your hatchery.

What is Nodavirus?

A virus that is found in many marine environments around Australia.

Why worry about Nodavirus?

Nodavirus kills hatchery barramundi in their thousands by destroying their brains and eyes (retinas).

Be alert to the risks! Be alert to the warning signs!

This table shows the risks and warning signs of neglecting biosecurity
What are the risks?What are the warning signs?

Neglecting biosecurity may allow nodavirus and other diseases to:

  • Get in to your hatchery
  • Build up and persist in your hatchery
  • Spread to other hatcheries / regions
  • Cause serious losses
  • Fish going off feed
  • Fish behaving abnormally:
    • Lethargic
    • Not schooling as usual
    • Spinning, spiralling or swirling
    • Not reacting to exernal stimuli like bright lights, noise, hand movements
  • Fish going darker or lighter than normal
  • Fish dying for no apparent reason (i.e. you’ve checked water quality and it is NOT this) in large numbers over a short time

Image showing the process of Biosecurity.
Image showing the process of Biosecurity.
This image shows the process of quarantined fish going to market.
Image showing a normal fish brain and one affected with nodavirus Image showing a normal fish eye and one affected by nodavirus
These images show the differences between normal fish brains/eyes compared with those affected by nodavirus.

Juvenile barramundi with nodavirus infection Image showing more affected fish
These images shows the eye and brain of a Juvenile barramundi with nodavirus infection and other fish which have been infected.

So what can you do?

Establish biosecure areas for your fish
  • Clear signposting of areas
  • Physical separation of areas with restricted access

Maintain biosecurity – prevent the introduction of disease

  • Quarantine new fish
  • Restrict visitor access
  • Don’t mix fish species
  • Don’t mix batches
  • Start with a clean slate for each area and each batch
    • Clean, disinfect and dry out between batches
  • Rinse and disinfect eggs
  • Only use live feeds (rotifers, copepods) of known quality
    • Grown in the hatchery for an extended period of time
  • Be responsible for your own area - don’t go where you aren’t needed
    • If you MUST move between areas, DECONTAMINATE - footbaths and handwash
  • Have dedicated equipment for each area
    • If you must move equipment, thoroughly CLEAN and DISINFECT it
  • Remove sick fish as much as it is possible and practical
  • Maintain good consistent water quality
  • Minimise stress on fish AND staff
  • Keep good records

Investigate problems quickly!

  • When warning signs appear - tell your manager immediately
    • If you are the manager, tell your staff of the problem
  • Make sure you know why the fish died - Get a diagnosis!
    • Take a sample of the fish and send to your veterinary diagnostic laboratory
    • Have your veterinarian investigate and take samples for laboratory analysis

Implement Disease Control by:

  • Having a Standard Operational Protocol in place – act quickly and decisively.
    The SOP must:
    • Be easily accessible
    • Be understood by staff BEFORE a disease event
    • Include procedures to reduce stress on healthy remaining fish
    • Describe decontamination and disinfection protocols
    • Include up to date contact details of your vet and diagnostic laboratory
    • Be read and understood by staff
      BEFORE a disease event
  • Seeking advice from your veterinarian on treatment and control
    • Maintain a sound active working relationship with your vet and diagnostic laboratory
  • Getting in touch with your State/Territory health authority (which MUST be done if nodavirus confirmed) - Contact details

Biosecurity: Be alert to avoid alarm

What is Biosecurity?

Programs, procedures and actions you take to prevent the outbreak, or limit the spread of nodavirus and other infectious diseases in your hatchery.

Why worry about the disease?

Disease – viral, bacterial, fungal or parasitic - is a real and present threat to the success of your farming operations. Disease is a major limiting factor to your farm making money (and you getting paid)!

Be alert to the risks! Be alert to the warning signs!

This table shows the risks and warning signs of biosecurity​
What are the risks?What are the warning signs?

Neglecting biosecurity may allow diseases to:

  • Get onto your farm; or
  • Build up on your farm!
  • Cause serious losses!
  • Spread to other farms in the region

  Fish affected by nodavirus or other diseases
This image shows fish affected by disease.

  • Fish going off feed
  • Fish behaving abnormally:
    • Lethargic
    • Not schooling as usual
    • Spiralling or swirling
    • Not reacting to exernal stimuli like bright lights, noise, hand movements
  • Fish going darker or lighter than normal
  • Fish dying for no apparent reason (i.e. you’ve checked water quality and it is NOT this) in large numbers over a short time
  • Scales loss
  • Ulcers
  • Bleeding from the fins, gills, eyes
  • Lumps on fish
  • Swelling of eyes and/ or abdomen
  • Pale or ragged gills

So what can you do?

Establish biosecure areas for your fish

  • Clear signposting of areas
  • Physical separation of areas with restricted access

Maintain biosecurity – prevent the introduction of disease

  • Quarantine new fish
  • Restrict visitor access
  • Don’t mix fish species
  • Don’t mix batches
  • Start with a clean slate for each area and each batch
    • Clean, disinfect and dry out between batches
  • Rinse and disinfect eggs
  • Be responsible for your own area - don’t go where you aren’t needed
    • If you MUST move between areas, DECONTAMINATE - footbaths and handwash
  • Have dedicated equipment for each area
    • If you must move equipment, thoroughly CLEAN and DISINFECT it
  • Remove sick fish as much as it is possible and practical
  • Maintain good consistent water quality
  • Minimise stress on fish AND staff
  • Keep good records

Investigate problems quickly!

  • When warning signs appear - tell your manager immediately
    • If you are the manager, tell your staff of the problem
  • Make sure you know why the fish died – Get a diagnosis!
    • Take a sample of the fish and send to your veterinary diagnostic laboratory
    • Have your veterinarian investigate and take samples for laboratory analysis   

Implement Disease Control by:

  • Having a Standard Operational Protocol in place – act quickly and decisively.
    The SOP must:
    • Be easily accessible
    • Be understood by staff BEFORE a disease event
    • Include procedures to reduce stress on healthy remaining fish
    • Describe decontamination and disinfection protocols
    • Include up to date contact details of your vet and diagnostic laboratory
    • Be read and understood by staff BEFORE a disease event
  • Seeking advice from your veterinarian on treatment and control
    • Maintain a sound active working relationship with your vet and diagnostic laboratory
  • Getting in touch with your State/Territory health authority (which MUST be done if nodavirus confirmed)
    • Contact details
​

Contacts

Call 1800 900 090

Contact us online

Report a biosecurity concern

Other format

  • Nodavirus biosecurity - be alert to avoid alarm PDF PDF icon PDF [6.3 MB, 2 pages]
Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 04 November 2019

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.