Local residents of Beachmere, a suburb south of Bribie Island in south-east Queensland, are up in arms at what appears to be the latest in a series of environmental disasters and “cover ups” in the region.
Fishing World was today alerted to a large fish kill by the magazine’s resident fish biologist and writer, Dr Ben Diggles. Somewhat ironically the fish kill has taken place virtually in Diggles’ backyard and involves huge numbers of sportfish including large mangrove jacks, milkfish, giant herring, yellowfin bream, whiting, flathead and more. The dead fish were found floating and littering the banks of the suburban lake near Biggs Avenue Beachmere. Diggles told Fisho he was amazed by the species list he’s now only uncovered “that it’s too late.”
Dr Ben Diggles with a large dead mangrove jack from the lake.
Local residents had reportedly been complaining of a “sewage smell” for weeks but had been told by the Moreton Bay Council that nothing was awry. It is believed the council were carrying out modifications to existing sewerage works on one side of the lake.
Diggles told Fisho it appears groundwater from the works had been pumped directly into the lake and had largely gone unnoticed as the waterway was exposed to spring tidal flow which flushed the system, alleviating possible contamination. Diggles says groundwater commonly contains hydrogen sulphide (H2S) which is produced by bacteria in oxygen depleted (anoxic) conditions and can be very toxic to fish. Hydrogen sulphide is commonly found in mangrove muds and when disturbed becomes oxidized.
Believed to be the culprit – a pipe pumping contaminated groundwater into the lake.
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Diggles believes further works have prevented any tidal influence within the lake and the ensuing fish kill. He adds that even if normal flushing rates had been maintained there was potentially always going to be a problem, as the groundwater is likely to have no oxygen in it.
To alert the public and media to this environmental vandalism and prevent potential “cover ups” he has completed a report on the fish kill which can be downloaded here. (View more video footage below).
The Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) was advised this morning of the fish kill and sent officers to the site to assess the situation.
If anyone has any information about this fish kill, they are encouraged to contact DERM on 1300 130 372.
Giant herring
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