IMAGES and videos published on social media this week have revealed a significant fish kill in Sydney’s Parramatta River.
According to a report on the ABC, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) began clearing some of the dead fish yesterday. The EPA’s director regulatory operations, James Goodwin, told the ABC the agency had received numerous reports across several sites including Rydalmere, Ermington and Homebush Bay.
Chris Bahjat, who regularly fishes along the Parramatta River, described the incident to the ABC as “unique”.
“I’ve seen a few fish kills but not like this,” Bahjat said.
“Literally, thousands of thousands of dead fish, everywhere you walk, a metre apart.
“You fish with the system all your life, you watch water quality slowly improve, and then it’s disappointing when you see that many fish dying.”
In a YouTube clip from Windsor Bait And Tackle, Aaron Horne can be seen collecting “trophy” size estuary perch, bream and luderick that are lying dead on the shoreline.
In another video, well known angler Al McGlashan shows hundreds of dead fish and crustaceans, including whiting and prawns, lying amongst piles of rubbish along the Parramatta River.
The Department of Primary Industries said fish kills are more common in summer and follow sudden changes in temperatures. This is supported by an in-field water quality analysis conducted by the EPA, which has indicated low dissolved oxygen causing the fish kills.
