Leading the Charge In Prawn Farming Biosecurity

As 2024 drew to a close, one of the region’s standout agricultural producers quietly achieved an extraordinary feat that deserves far more recognition.
Australian Prawn Farms, a leader in prawn farming and biosecurity, quietly made waves with their exceptional approach to safeguarding the industry. Despite the attention often given to other sectors, this small but mighty farm has set the bar for biosecurity excellence, earning the title of Farm Biosecurity Producer of the Year.
Located near Ilbilbie, Australian Prawn Farms is committed to their role as an industry leader in biosecurity. They are a premier tiger prawn hatchery, grow-out farm and processing facility.
Despite their small workforce, the farm has generously supported the Australian Prawn Farmers Association (APFA) where president Matt West and Tony Charles (chair of APFA Research Committee) have been active committee members for over 10 years. Matt and Tony have implemented best practice biosecurity measures at Australian Prawn Farms and work tirelessly to promote the importance of biosecurity in the Australian prawn farming industry.
At Australian Prawn Farms, they ensure all inputs, including feed, water and stock are rigorously screened for prawn pathogens. They implemented a pathogen screening protocol that exceeds minimum requirements to screen broodstock, post-larvae, and pond-reared stock. All broodstock are quarantined and individually screened for pathogens prior to entry into the hatchery system. Every tank of post larvae is screened and assessed prior to transferring to the grow out section of the farm, and every pond is screened at 100 and 125 days of culture for the presence of 7 pathogens endemic to Australia.
Australian Prawn Farms employs best-practice production techniques that prioritise biosecurity. This includes funding research into the use of eDNA to detect and quantify pathogen presence in ponds and seasonal fluctuations in pathogens. On farm, they reduce risk of disease spread and ensure a healthy, thriving prawn population by maintaining optimal water quality and closely monitoring prawn health. Australian Prawn Farms applies strict exit-level biosecurity, ensuring only pathogen screened post-larvae or cooked products leave the premises.
Australian Prawn Farms demonstrates a strong commitment to training and providing career pathways to the next generation of prawn farmers. This includes hosting veterinary science students from James Cook University to support future veterinary specialist training in aquatic practice.
They have been one of the major initiators of increased communications within the prawn farming industry on the presence and impact of endemic pathogens.
Australian Prawn Farms is a model of biosecurity excellence within the prawn farming industry. Their comprehensive and proactive approach to biosecurity safeguards their operations and sets a benchmark for the entire sector. By integrating biosecurity into daily activities and maintaining rigorous standards across all areas of farm management, this organisation exemplifies best-practice preventative measures, ensuring the health and sustainability of prawn farming in Australia.
Australian Prawn Farms was nominated by Kelly Condon from James Cook University.

‍