Another swan fish kill
Submitted by Fossil on Sat, 2012-07-28 13:01
Yes, again. A mate was out yesterday & found lots of dead fish through the maylands/ascott area. There's an online article in the Herald Sun if anyone is interested, yet another algal bloom apparently. This is the third one this year I believe. Things not looking good for the Swan.
bod
Posts: 2319
Date Joined: 03/05/06
yeah, a real problem
New algae problems in Ascot Waters kill more Swan River fish
Dead fish in parts of the Swan River after elevated levels of a notorious microalgae were detected. Source: PerthNow
DEAD fish have again appeared in parts of the Swan River after elevated levels of a notorious microalgae were detected.
Several hundred sluggish and dead fish, predominantly black bream, have been sighted around Ascot Waters marina in the Swan River.
It comes just weeks after the same species of algae was linked to over 2500 fish deaths over a 13km stretch further up the river, between Bassendean and West Swan.
Elevated levels of the microalgae Karlodinium veneficum, which is potentially toxic to fish, have been detected by the Swan River Trust officers in recent weeks.
Swan River Trust principal scientist Kerry Trayler said the free-floating microalgae was known to affect the capacity of fish to extract oxygen from the water.
Dr Trayler said this species does not present a direct risk to humans but sensible precautions should be taken where dead fish are sighted.
“The Department of Health advises that people should not swim in, or fish in, water with dead and decomposing fish," she said.
"They should also keep pets and other animals away from the fish because they may contain high levels of bacteria.
“Sluggish and dead fish should also not be collected and used for bait or consumption because of the risk of high levels of bacteria.”
SABRE
Posts: 404
Date Joined: 17/05/12
burswood
Went fishing behind burswood today a few dead fish and lots of inactive bream sitting in the reeds. You could just about pick them up . I guess it moving downstream as well.
If fishing is a sport I,m an elite athlete
Troy Summers
Posts: 408
Date Joined: 14/08/11
And 'they' reckon the Swan
And 'they' reckon the Swan is a healthy ecosystem.. what a load of crap, on a plus side... the blowies wont go down there so we now get to catch nothing, but save money on bait
Berin
Posts: 150
Date Joined: 15/07/10
Tragic
I weep for the Swan, such an amazing river. Shame my kids will never see it as anything other than toxic.
perth fisher
Posts: 132
Date Joined: 02/06/11
i think that downstream of
i think that downstream of pelican point the river is ok, but upstream of the city is doesnt get enough water flow, and lots of fertiliser runoff from nearby land gives the river too much than it can cope with....
championruby
Posts: 459
Date Joined: 20/01/11
Went down to maylands for a
Went down to maylands for a fish tonight before I heard this. Devastated to say the least, makes a mockery of all our catch and release when you see 35 + cm bream and 40 + cm flathead littering the banks.
Looked like they died a painful death, with blood visibly spilling out of the gills of the dead fish. As we were there you could see fish dieing slowly on the surface of the water.
MetroMako
Posts: 245
Date Joined: 17/07/12
Fertiliser
All the drains run into the river.Fertiliser/oil from cars/everything.Even up here in the hills on the drains it says"Runs into swan river".Maybe they should run them into a treatment plant then return it to the river.The cost would run into the millions though..Wont eat nothing past freo traffic bridge