A STUDY has revealed fish life around the discharge outlet of Sydney’s desalination plant has increased by 279 per cent.
According to a report on ABC.net.au, research by Southern Cross University and published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology found the excess hypersaline water pumped at the outlet off Kurnell increased fish life when the plant was in operation.
Lead researcher from the university’s National Marine Science Centre Professor Brendan Kelaher told the ABC the results were not what they had been expecting when they began the study.
“We went into this study reading the global literature and there was a general feeling that there may be no impact or maybe a decrease in fish life,” Dr Kelaher said.
“We were really surprised to find such strong positive effects.
“They turned on the plant and there were fish everywhere. It was really quite amazing.”