THE Canberra Times reports that scientists have ruled out a virus as the cause of a large number of fish deaths at Yerrabi Pond in the national capital’s north.
Environment and Planning Directorate aquatic ecologist Dr Lisa Evans said the ACT Government had been doing testing to establish why fish in the pond had been dying.
Large and small cod were found dead at Yerrabi and Gungahlin ponds earlier this month.
The city’s anglers were concerned the entire large cod population would be wiped out after years of stocking.
Dr Evans said tests on water samples all returned readings within normal ranges.
Results from tests done by the University of Sydney have found fish viruses are not to blame for the deaths.
Dr Evans said it was believed the cause might be linked to short-term oxygen shortage associated with nutrient run from recent storms, warmer water temperatures and large amounts of filamentous algae in the pond.
She said breeding stress could also be a contributing factor.
