QUEENSLAND authorities have banned residents and commercial operators from catching prawns and crabs in the state’s southeast due to an outbreak of white spot disease.

The Logan River has been closed to commercial and recreational crustacean fishing after an outbreak of the virus in wild prawns.

Restrictions are in place between Jabiru and Luscombe Weirs in the west to the mouth of the river in the east.

“We are moving quickly to reduce the chance of the virus spreading any further through locally-caught wild prawns, crabs or worms,” chief biosecurity officer Jim Thompson said.

Outbreak of White Spot Disease in prawns forces fishing restrictions in the Logan River. #9News pic.twitter.com/CgY2BwRueG — Nine News Brisbane (@9NewsBrisbane) December 9, 2016

“Any movement of green, uncooked crustaceans taken from this area would pose a real risk for moving the virus beyond the Logan River.”

The control order restricts any movement of crabs, worms and prawns out of the defined area. Fin fishing and boating is still allowed.

Infected prawns do not pose a risk to humans but the ban is needed to stop the virus spreading elsewhere, Biosecurity Queensland says.

Aquaculture operators and fishers should report any unusual signs in prawns and other crustaceans to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.