A bream, caught in Tea Gardens two weeks ago, was found with a large lesion on its side sparking concerns the disease may be returning to the Myall. During last year’s outbreak of the fungal disease, aquatic biosecurity manager for NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), Jane Frances told the Nota that Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome – more commonly known as red spot disease – showed up as red lesions or deep ulcers on the skin of infected fish.

“Outbreaks of red spot disease are reasonably common and usually clear up naturally,” Ms Frances said.

“In some catchments outbreaks have been associated with acid water run-off, particularly after heavy rains following a prolonged dry spell.”

One week after the Tea Gardens bream was caught, Stewart Paterson from Hawks Nest Sports Store reported that holidaymakers fishing off Jimmy’s beach caught a flathead with a similar enflamed ulcer on its side. Since then a further two unconfirmed reports of bream with the same lesions have been caught near Corrie Island.

Spokesman for the Myall River Action Group, Gordon Grainger, who photograph the first bream caught, said the fish lesions are the product of a sick river.

“The water from Tamboy down to the river mouth is badly discoloured and heavily silted at high tide and it now contains large amounts of dead weed.”

Mr Grainger said it’s a matter of wait and see until the department can confirm or deny any red spot outbreak.

A spokeswoman from the DPI said the department regularly monitors the occurrence of red spot disease, as well as other aquatic diseases.

“By reporting unusual disease signs directly to NSW DPI Fisheries officers, anglers will help us target our sampling so that we can get a better understanding of the spread of disease, affected species and possible triggers that could have caused the outbreak,” she said.

The department reminds fishers that the presence or suspected presence of a declared disease must by law be reported to a fisheries officer.

“A frozen fish is useless for diagnostic purposes. Therefore we are encouraging the public that fish to be submitted for examination should not be frozen, but should either be submitted live, or be killed, put in a plastic bag and then put on ice.”

NSW DPI encourages anglers who catch any fish that have unusual disease signs to report their suspicions to NSW DPI on 1300 550 474 or by contacting their local Fisheries Office.