Seafood industry boss Eric Perez is calling for calm and an increased appetite for seafood as his sector reels from another disease incursion threatening operations in the state’s south east.

His call comes as Queensland’s biosecurity net takes another hit with animal health authorities confirming positive detections of white spot syndrome virus on prawn farms on the Logan River.

The latest outbreak comes as the industry was on the cusp of lifting trade restrictions out of the Moreton Bay region after recording two consecutive years of negative tests.

The disease was uncovered after Biosecurity Queensland undertook routine surveillance for white spot syndrome virus in Moreton Bay last month with mangrove swimming crabs returning positive for the disease.

Further samples from two prawn farms on the Logan River in South East Queensland also returned positive for the disease which devastated seven prawn farms in 2016.

It’s another huge blow for Biosecurity Queensland’s reputation as it deals with its failure to block the destructive fall armyworm moth’s entry into North Queensland earlier this year.

The moth which originates from Central America is a devastating pest of plants and crops, destined to add more costs to farmers who will need more chemicals to keep its spread in check.

Biosecurity officials are also on high alert to withhold the invasion of African Swine Fever, now on Queensland’s doorstep in PNG and threatening the nation’s pork industry.

Despite today’s setback, Perez said he was urging his members to take a business as usual approach.

“We expect the same restrictions we’ve been living with for almost five years now will continue, so there’s no real change to how we’re currently operating,” he said.

“I just want to reiterate that white spot presents no risk to human health and that people should continue to enjoy their seafood. We had a great Easter period with plenty of seafood purchased and I want to thank Queenslanders for their continued support.”

Biosecurity Queensland representatives will meet with members of the Aquatic Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Disease today (Tuesday) to discuss the new detections and ongoing management options for white spot.

Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said white spot posed no threat to human health and Queensland seafood remained safe to eat.

“This is not the result we wanted to see but we will get through this and now more than ever we should be supporting our local seafood industry,” Mr Furner said.

“Queensland seafood is magnificent, the best in the world, and that hasn’t changed. I hope everyone will back our Queensland seafood industry by buying it and enjoying it more than ever.”

Furner said confirmed testing was an unfortunate situation for everybody involved and the Queensland Government would continue to work closely with the seafood industry across its wild caught and farmed sectors impacted by the outbreak.

“Biosecurity Queensland will review all prawn farms to ensure future on-farm biosecurity management is appropriate in dealing with this new detection,” Mr Furner said.

“This is the second year back in production for three prawn farms but the first time white spot has been detected again on-farm.”

White spot movement restrictions remain in place for raw prawns, yabbies and marine worms from Caloundra to the New South Wales border and west to Ipswich.