Fisheries Queensland has received reports from commercial fishers about a condition affecting fish being caught in Gladstone Harbour. Some fish have been found with cloudy eyes, redness/skin discolouration or lesions.

Test results have identified a parasite on some of the locally-caught barramundi tested. One fish from Port Alma has also tested positive for red-spot disease.

Red-spot disease is endemic and is seen in Queensland waters occasionally.

The parasite is a parasitic flatworm, which is also endemic to Australia and is reported occasionally in Queensland in saltwater areas.

A different parasitic flatworm has also been identified on some sharks tested, but this parasite is known to occur on sharks.

Shell erosion was identified on some prawns and crabs, however tests have found this is due to a relatively common bacteria.

An investigation by Queensland Health has found no link between diseases in fish from Gladstone Harbour and its surrounds, and human health issues.

On 16 September, Fisheries Queensland put in place a temporary closure on all fishing in an area centred on Gladstone while the Queensland Government investigated a condition affecting some locally-caught fish.

The closed area was between Deception Creek at the top end of The Narrows down to Rodds Peninsula and to the outer edge of Facing Island, and applied to all tidal waters including rivers, creeks and other waterways - refer to map (PDF 132kB).

Testing was conducted on samples of a range of fish species, prawns and mud crabs. Further testing is continuing.

The Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) has been carrying out monthly monitoring of water quality in the Boyne and Calliope estuaries since 1994.

In response to the fish health issues, DERM reviewed available water quality data - from DERM, Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC) and Port Curtis Integrated Monitoring Program (PCIMP) - to determine if there had been any obvious or unusual deterioration in water quality outside of historical fluctuations in the Port Curtis area, and commenced an independent monthly water quality monitoring program within Gladstone Harbour and surrounding areas.

Queensland Health tested water in swimming areas for E. coli and enterococci, indicators of faecal contamination.

In response to reports that commercial fishers were sick following contact with diseases fish caught in the Gladstone region, Queensland Health interviewed a number of people who expressed concerns that they may have been unwell as a result of contact with diseased fish, to look for patterns of illness and possible links between diseased fish and human health.

As of 7 October, the closure was lifted and commercial and recreational fishing has resumed.

The temporary closure was put in place because at the time it was not known what was causing the symptoms exhibited by the sick fish, or if there were human health concerns.

Samples of sick fish have been tested by Biosecurity Queensland, and two conditions were identified as causing the symptoms in the fish samples tested - red-spot disease and a parasitic flatworm.

Red-spot disease and the parasitic flatworm typically occur in fish when they are under stress. Red-spot disease usually occurs either during winter months when the immunity of the fish is lower, or following the first heavy rainfall of the wet season.

The parasitic flatworm occurs in saltwater, and spreads quickly when fish are in close density.

A review of published medical and scientific literature by Queensland Health found no evidence of any relationship between these two conditions in fish and illness in humans. Overall investigations have not identified any link between the diseases found in Gladstone fish and human health issues.

It is important to note that people working in the fishing industry may experience a wide variety of skin disorders including eczemas, traumatic injuries, fungal and bacterial infections, and skin problems related to environmental conditions. The background rates of skin problems in fishing industry workers in Queensland are unknown. In an overseas study it was reported that as many as 78% of workers involved in seafood processing reported skin rashes.

Staff from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland will work closely with the local fishing industry to provide safe work and hygiene practice advice.

Additional testing of fish samples is continuing to assess the extent of affected fish in the Gladstone area.

Fisheries Queensland has noted a decrease in the number of fish exhibiting lesions or cloudy eyes.

Staff from Fisheries Queensland have been out on the harbour and in surrounding waters to collect fish samples for testing.

Over the past few months, Fisheries Queensland has caught and visually inspected more than 300 barramundi, nearly 70 sharks, more than 50 kg of whiting and 10 kg of mullet, over 930 mud crabs as well as a variety of other fish, crustacean and mollusc species including spotted cod, spangled emperor, blue threadfin salmon, bream, javelin, scallops, trevally, prawns and a Moreton Bay bug.

As of 15 December, 67 submissions have been provided for laboratory testing, with each submission including multiple tissue and skin samples.

For more details, see Gladstone fish sampling and test results.

DERM also continues to conduct water quality testing and monitoring in the Gladstone area. For water quality test results, visit DERM's Gladstone website.

The State Government agencies are working closely to monitor the situation and are consulting with the Queensland Seafood Industry Association, Queensland Seafood Marketers Association and Sunfish Queensland.

Overtopping events at Awoonga Dam between December 2010 and March 2011 resulted in a significant number of stocked barramundi moving into the Boyne River estuary and Gladstone Harbour.

These fish suffered physical stress during the floods, including changes in salinity and turbid water, and were subsequently exposed to low temperatures during winter.

The overall effect of these events was increased stress levels in the fish, which made them more susceptible to diseases and /or parasites.

Scientists are confident the primary cause for the increase in marine strandings of turtles and dugongs along the Queensland coastline is related to seagrass dieback.

Seagrass is the main diet for turtles and dugongs and it has been in significant decline following the recent summer of storms and floods.

Lacking their normal diet, turtles and dugong have to travel further to seek food, often suffering exhaustion and malnutrition. They are also more susceptible to boat strike and net entanglement.

While experts expect seagrasses to recover, increased numbers of marine strandings and deaths are also expected to continue this year.

To report health issues relating to marine animals including turtles and dugongs, contact DERM´s stranding hotline 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625).

A Queensland Health investigation has not identified any link between the diseases in Gladstone fish and human health issues.

Queensland Health interviewed a number of people who were concerned they may have been unwell, in particular with infections and other skin conditions, as a result of contact with diseased fish from the Gladstone area. The interviews were conducted in order to establish whether there was any clear pattern of illness among interviewees, and to identify possible links between diseased fish and risks to human health. A range of symptoms were described by interviewees, including 'flu-like' illnesses, infected injuries, boils, eye discharge and redness, swelling or rashes on the hands and feet. The majority of interviewees reported infected injuries and skin infections.

A small number of interviewees, all fishers, were found to have skin infections caused by the staphylococcus aureus bacteria - a common cause of skin infections in the community. In particular, a type of staphylococcus aureus known as community-acquired MRSA or non multi-resistant methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (nmMRSA), was identified in 5 individuals. It is most likely that this infection was contracted through contact with other people.

A review of medical and scientific literature found that Neobenedenia spp. (parasitic flatworms) are not known to cause disease in humans. Likewise red-spot disease, the condition identified in a barramundi sample from Port Alma, is not known to cause human illness. There are no major zoonoses (illnesses transmitted to humans from animals) in the literature related to handling of fish.

Staphylococcus aureus is a common bacterium that lives on the skin or in the noses and mouths of around one third of people in the community. It is a common cause of skin infections.

Staphylococcus aureus is spread through person-to-person direct contact, especially in crowded situations. It can also be spread when people share personal items such as towels and razors. Breaks in the skin such as cuts and scratches also increase the risk of infection.

The spread of staphylococcus aureus can be limited through good personal hygiene and through good first aid for cuts and abrasions. Any injuries should be rinsed thoroughly with clean, fresh water as soon as possible. Antiseptic and a protective dressing should also be applied to the wound.

Anyone with a skin infection should see their family doctor so that a swab can be taken to identify the cause of the infection and appropriate treatment can begin.

Please read the staphylococcus aureus and methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (PDF, 155 kB) fact sheets for more information.

Queensland Health sent information to local GPs about this issue and provided advice to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland who are working with the industry to improve hygiene, injury prevention, and injury and infection first aid.

If you catch a fish showing signs of illness, Fisheries Queensland advises you to handle it carefully and not keep it.

Regardless of where you catch or purchase fish, you should not eat any fish or other seafood that shows signs of damage, deterioration or disease. This advice is consistent with standard advice regarding consumption of potentially compromised food. In particular, you should not eat fish with red-spot disease, as bacteria in seawater may penetrate into and contaminate the flesh of the fish.

If you have accidental contact with a diseased fish, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. Rinse any wounds with clean fresh water as soon as possible. Apply antiseptic and a protective dressing to the wound.

Anyone who has a concern about their health that could be attributed to the handling and consumption of seafood should seek medical advice from their family doctor in the first instance or the local hospital emergency department if the matter is urgent.

In particular, anyone with a skin infection should see their family doctor so that a swab can be taken to identify the cause of the infection and appropriate treatment can begin. This action should also be taken for an infected wound or a wound that doesn't heal.

Any injuries should be rinsed thoroughly with clean, fresh water as soon as possible. Antiseptic and a protective dressing should also be applied to the wound.

Hand washing is an important measure in preventing the transmission of infection. Adequate hand washing facilities should be provided at the workplace. Hands should be washed using soap and water before and after contact with an injured person. See further information below on occupational health and safety tips.

Environmental investigations have shown water in the waterways and near beaches meets water quality guidelines for recreational waters. People have been using these beaches over recent months without incident and there is no reason why the community should not continue to use these waters as usual.

Some commercial fishers have raised concerns about the health of live coral trout transported through Gladstone Harbour.

These unconfirmed reports indicate that the coral trout have shown signs of illness. Samples of these fish are yet to be submitted for testing.

Seafood available through retail outlets is from regulated and wide-ranging sources and continues to be safe to purchase and eat.

All seafood that is supplied for human consumption must meet national standards for suitability and food safety. Unsuitable product cannot be supplied. Failure to meet requirements is in breach of the legislation and severe penalties apply.

Safe Food Production Queensland (SFPQ) is conducting monitoring activities to ensure requirements are met.

Product affected with lesions or other visible signs of disease/illness should not be filleted, gutted or otherwise processed. Affected product should be isolated and disposed of and SFPQ should be notified.

For more information visit the SFPQ website.

When handling any raw seafood or animal products, thoroughly wash your hands before and after food preparation. Wash any utensils used for food preparation in hot, soapy water.

It is also a breach of Queensland's Food Act 2006 to sell unsatisfactory or unsafe seafood. Anyone who has a complaint about such seafood needs to report the matter to 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).

The State Government has established a scientific panel to oversee the investigation to provide independent scientific and health advice to the government.

The panel includes independent experts in the areas of water health, seafood safety, fish pathology and ecotoxins.

Compensation is not payable under the Fisheries Act 1994 for the emergency disease and quarantine declaration made for public health protection.

Adherence to good infection control practices including standard precautions remains the first line of protection for workers against occupational exposure to skin penetrating injuries (SPI) and associated aquaculture activities.

A first aid kit should be appropriate for the types of injuries and illnesses likely to occur at the workplace. The first aid kit can be any size, but must be large enough to fit all the required contents and should be clearly signed.

Include single use, disposable items in the kit where possible. Reusable items must be cleaned, sterilised and disinfected before reuse.

First aid kits (for low risk workplaces) should include:

• adhesive strips (assorted sizes) for minor wound dressing
• non-allergenic adhesive tape for securing dressings and strapping
• eye pads for emergency eye cover
• triangular bandage for slings, support and/or padding
• hospital crepe or conforming bandage to hold dressings in place
• wound/combine dressings to control bleeding and for covering wounds
• non-adhesive dressings for wound dressing
• safety pins to secure bandages and slings
• scissors for cutting dressings or clothing kidney dish for holding dressings and instruments
• small dressings bowl for holding liquids
• gauze squares for cleaning wounds
• forceps/tweezers for removing foreign bodies
• disposable latex or vinyl gloves for infection control
• sharps disposal container for infection control and disposal purposes
• sterile saline solution or sterile water for emergency eye wash or for irrigating eye wounds. This saline solution must be discarded after opening
• resuscitation mask to be used by qualified personnel for resuscitation purposes
• antiseptic solution for cleaning wounds and skin
• plastic bags for waste disposal
• notepad and pen/pencil for recording the injured or ill person's condition and treatment given
• re-usable ice-pack for the management of strains, sprains and bruises.

People working in remote locations should have access to an appropriate communication system like a mobile, telephone or two-way radio.

A checklist on first aid kits is provided in section 2 of the First Aid Advisory Standard 2004 (now known as a Code of Practice).

More information on infection control is provided in section 2.4 of the First Aid Advisory Standard 2004 on the Workplace Health and Safety Queensland website.

All open wounds can become infected if exposed to the environment. Fishing is conducted in a harsh environment that has the potential to increase the likelihood of infection. It is recommended that you seek medical assessment as soon as possible. The doctor can then assess the wound.

Records of injury should be documented and kept at the workplace.

Queensland´s workers´ compensation scheme provides compensation to workers who suffer a compensable injury in the course of their employment. Workers are still eligible for workers´ compensation if their employer is uninsured and WorkCover must pay compensation to the worker if they are entitled to compensation.

You should still lodge a claim with WorkCover through its standard claims process.  WorkCover is required to pay compensation to an injured worker even if the employer is uninsured or under-insured. WorkCover is able to recover the amount paid to an injured worker from the employer, as well as a further penalty based on the amount paid on the claim (see section 57 of the Workers´ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003).

If you have any questions about your workers´ compensation entitlements, please call WorkCover on 1300 362 128.