Mullet struggling for survival in anoxic water, Beachmere, QLD

Groundwater laden with hydrogen sulphide is being pumped from a council construction site into a coastal lake at Beachmere where a large fish kill has taken place. Flow rate was 2 L/sec. Locals say the ground water pumping had been going on for 2 weeks or more. This video taken at 6.30 am in the morning shows mullet swimming around gulping air at the air/water interface. All other fish in the lake which cannot display this air gulping behaviour are already decomposing on the bank. Other species that have already succumbed include dozens of mangrove jacks to 3 kg, giant herring and milkfish to 90 cm, yellowfin bream, whiting, flathead, tailor, silver biddy, moses perch, garfish, most of the larger mullet, and herring. Video by Dr Ben Diggles, aquatic animal health specialist, director, Digsfish Services www.digsfish.com.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Anoxia
• groundwater
• hydrogen sulphide
• fish kill
• Queensland

[BenS12510]

The "sewage smell" reported by residents for several days previous to the event was actually hydrogen sulphide (H2S, rotten eggs gas) from the ground water coming out of the pipe. The council have ruled out sewage contamination, but the H2S is far more toxic to aquatic life. H2S is formed by anaerobic bacteria. This suggests the groundwater oxygen levels are very low, consistent with observations of fish avoiding the area where the water was flowing in.

[ForgetTheLight]

@kenscall

Help instead of whining? A bit hypocritical don't you think, seeing as the content of your comment seems to be all whine and no help.

[tomiscool3342]

i know its sad but there gonna die anyway so CAST NET THAT SHIT

[kenscall]

There has always been a problem with the this "so called lake" in Beachmere but it takes an event like this for all you people to start pointing fingers at whoever they feel like. Most places the world over have resident groups who are concerned about their surroundings and do something about it. You people should be ashamed of yourselves after all you have been living around this for years, work with MBRC they will do something about it so get off your back sides and help instead of whining.

[Darkysbox]

sad stuff.. the media was suggesting it was due to increased temps.. but now they're investigating sewerage contamination..