QLD’s Department of Employment Economic Development and Innovation is set to lift the temporary fishing closure on Gladstone Harbour from Friday 7 October.
The closure had resulted from findings of sick and dead barramundi and other fish in the region as well as reported illnesses suffered by local commercial fishermen.
Some pundits believe the contamination affecting the Gladstone region was a direct result of dredging works carried out during the construction of liquefied natural gas plants, which had released buried toxins into the waterway.
Fisheries Minister Craig Wallace said results from water quality analysis and fish testing confirmed fish in Gladstone area waters were not considered a food safety or human health issue.
“The decision to establish the closure was not made lightly, and neither is the decision to lift it,” Wallace said.
“Fish sampling conducted by Fisheries Queensland over the past few days is indicating that the number of fish exhibiting lesions or cloudy eyes is decreasing,” Wallace said.
“We are lifting the closure following test results which confirm the cause of the symptoms in the affected fish are red spot disease and a parasite endemic in Queensland.
“These conditions occur occasionally in Queensland and other parts of Australia when fish are stressed.”
From Friday October 7 commercial, charter and recreational fishing activities are again permitted in the Gladstone area.
For more information visit www.qld.gov.au/gladstoneharbour or phone 13 25 23.
