A fish kill was reported at Capricornia Canal in Ocean Shores on Friday.
Resident Reid Waters told The Echo, ‘It was probably caused by a natural event, but one cannot dismiss the environmental effect of six drums dumped into an isolated reach of the upper canal’. The weed control herbicide Wipe-Out 450 drums were found with their caps on, says Mr Waters.
He says that fish kills happen fairly regularly. ‘It’s right across from my house and I can smell them from here,’ he said.
Executive manger of planning and environment Ray Darney told The Echo preliminary testing of the area had shown low levels of oxygen within the canal.
‘This is a natural occurrence after recent rains following an extended dry period,’ he said. ‘It is unknown where the drums have come from and we would appreciate any information from the public being forwarded on.’
This is not a natural occurrence just because it happens regularly. Land disturbance and management practices upstream are the cause.
Land disturbance and herbicide use running off into our water-ways. Widespread herbicide use in our valleys could also have contributed to 2 platypus deaths recently in Wilson Creek. Round-up has been found to be active in water and soil proving users who argue glyphosate is harmless in water, wrong. Many countries are now reducing and banning the use of Round-up due to human health now negatively being impacted upon.