More than 100 bream have been found dead on a Shoalhaven beach after a lagoon was allegedly illegally opened.
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The bream were found on Kioloa Beach after Butlers Laggon was opened to the ocean in early December.
Bawley bush care and shorebird volunteer Margaret Hamon said she counted 175 fish on the beach.
“I was very saddened by it, not only for the fishes sake but because it is just before the school holidays and the lake looked beautiful,” she said.
“It would have been a great place for kids to fish. It has ruined it for the school holidays and the lake looks awful and smells awful with all the dead fish on the sand bank.
“In summer it is normally fairly clear, although it is always a browny colour from the tannin, which is perfectly natural. It won’t have very many fish in it now.
“It is a popular swimming spot and is right next to the caravan park.”
Ms Hamon urged people not to open lakes or lagoons to the ocean.
“People love opened lakes when they are full. They think it is a fun thing to do,” she said.
“A lot of people don’t realise that it is illegal.
“It is not goo for the lagoons to be dug out and it kills fish.”
A NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) spokesman said the incident had been investigated.
“The cause of the fish kill was determined to be the opening of the entrance of Butlers Lagoon, however we were unable to determine if this opening occurred naturally or was an artificial opening,” he said.
“DPI will continue to liaise with the local community to obtain more information.
“Any opening, either artificial or natural can result in a rapid change in conditions within the intermittently closed and open lakes and lagoons ecosystem.”
The maximum penalty under the Fisheries Management Act 1994 for illegally opening a waterway to the ocean is $220,000 for local government authorities or corporations and $110,000 for individuals.
“Deliberate unauthorised openings should be reported immediately to DPI Fisheries, Batemans Bay Marine Park or Shoalhaven City Council,” the DPI spokesman said.
Fish die when lakes are suddenly opened to the ocean because of the rush and change of water caused.
These changes can include:
- A drop in available oxygen when water levels fall below vegetation beds which pump oxygen into the water.
- Fish may have to crowd into isolated deep holes, further depleting the oxygen.
- Sudden changes in salinity which may adversely affect them.
Emily Barton
Emily Barton is a Producer at The Canberra Times.
Emily Barton is a Producer at The Canberra Times.
