[Mike]

Big Fish Kill in Australia
Mysterious big fish kill in Cape York river
Updated July 19, 2011 08:16:04

Queensland’s Department of Environment and Resource Management says it cannot explain why large schools of fish are dying in a Cape York river.

The department says it received reports of about 1,000 dead fish floating in parts of the Normanby River, at the Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park, last week.

Most of the dead fish were barramundi and jewfish.

The department has been testing the river’s water quality but says acidity, salinity and dissolved oxygen levels are all normal, and there is no evidence of contamination.

A spokesman says fish deaths can occur naturally in water courses with rapid changes to water temperature.

He says there is no evidence the fish pose a risk to public health. Samples of the fish have been tested and results are expected next week.
First posted July 19, 2011 05:59:37

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-19/cape-york-fish-kill/2799660