[Greens-Media] WA needs better planning to combat rise in fish kills

[Dortch, Eloise]

WA needs better planning to combat rise in fish kills  
Media release Tuesday 15 December 2015
 
Greens Member for South Metropolitan Lynn MacLaren MLC says that while the recent Cockburn Sound fish kill made the news, many are occurring on a bigger scale in WA annually, with less public attention given.

"The kill in Cockburn Sound involving over 2,500 fish was galling for recreational fishers because it involved so many large pink snapper, which aggregate to spawn in the Sound at this time of year," Ms MacLaren said.

"However, the reality is that in recent years, fish kills have been occurring annually and on a bigger scale than in Cockburn Sound.

"For example, in February 3,000 freshwater cobbler, nightfish, marron and redfin perch dead were found dead in the Collie River and the year before that an estimated 10,000 mullet died in the Vasse Estuary.

"It is not just rivers and estuaries that are affected - an ocean heat wave event in early 2011 killed masses of marine species, especially slow moving creatures such as abalone,  along the west coast, between the Abrolhos Islands and Moore River.

"Along with warming temperatures, typical causes of fish kill are algal blooms, poor water quality and resulting low oxygen.

"The question for the Government is does it want to reduce this problem or continue business as usual?

"We cannot stop water temperatures rising in the immediate term and neither can we eliminate algae as it naturally exists and only poses a problem when it blooms to above-normal levels.

"One thing we can do is improve water quality, which means making judicious decisions over what development should proceed on our coast and other water bodies.

"A first step would be to follow NSW and Victoria by banning all new canal estates, as they are notorious for reducing water quality and are also inappropriate in locations such as south-western WA where significant sea level rise is projected due to climate change."   

Notes to media:
The following is by no means a comprehensive list of recent WA fish kills, drawn from the Department of Water website and scientific reports on the 2011 ocean heat wave.

Feb 2015: 3,000 freshwater cobbler, nightfish, marron and redfin perch dead - Collie River
http://www.water.wa.gov.au/./tests-completed-in-response-to.

Feb 2014: 10,000 mullet dead, Vasse Estuary
http://www.water.wa.gov.au/./vasse-fish-pathology-tests-com.

April 2013: 10,000 fish (non-specified), Vasse Estuary
http://www.water.wa.gov.au/./vasse-fish-deaths-tests-comple.

Feb 2013: no number given, Serpentine River, 
http://www.water.wa.gov.au/./water-testing-completed-in-res.

Feb 2013: 300-400 dead bream and mullet, creeks at Elleker near Albany
http://www.water.wa.gov.au/./department-testing-confirms-al.

Feb 2012: black bream, Serpentine River 
http://www.water.wa.gov.au/./possible-fish-kill-incident-se.

Feb 2011, multiple large fish kills involving wide range of species, at Abrolhos Islands and along the coast, Greenhead to Moore River 
http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/Docum./research_reports/frr222.pdf

April 2009: 20 sea mullet, wetlands near Princess Royal Harbour, Albany
http://www.water.wa.gov.au/././source-of-fish-kill-confirmed

July-August 2007: Stokes Inlet near Esperance
http://www.water.wa.gov.au/././stokes-inlet-fish-kill-update


Hon Lynn MacLaren MLC
Member for South Metropolitan Region
Legislative Council 
Parliament of Western Australia

Unit 7, 142 South Terrace 
Fremantle, Western Australia 6160
Tel: +61.8.9430 7233
Fax: +61.8.9430 7207

www.lynnmaclaren.org.au