Cause of sick fish in Gladstone Harbour Unknown

[Gad]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/breaking-news/cause-of-sick-fish-in-gladstone-harbour-remains-unknown/story-e6freonf-1226238211884

• January 06, 201212:02PM

AN independent report on sick fish has declared the water in Gladstone Harbour does not pose a risk to human health.

The scientific advisory panel, which handed its report to the Queensland government today, found water quality and sediment in the central Queensland harbour was not connected to the skin lesions and cloudy eyes found in some locally caught fish.

Water quality test results were not unusual except for extremely low salinity levels last wet season, it said.

However, the panel could not identify what caused the fish to become sick.

It recommended further monitoring and research.

Most fishermen blame a large-scale dredging operation but the government says last summer's floods caused the problems.

"Determining conclusively whether any environmental changes have anything to do with the reported fish health problems is a formidable and perhaps impossible undertaking," the report said.

"Nevertheless, it is the panel's view there is an issue of concern around the health of some species of fish in Gladstone Harbour and this is possibly caused by environmental factors."

The report listed a range of possible causes, such as "legacy persistent organic pollutants" remobilised during dredging.

"While these possibilities are highly speculative, they warrant further exploration," it said.

The panel said additional investigation by Queensland Health was not warranted because illnesses among commercial fishermen in Gladstone could not be linked with the fish.

It recommended Workplace Health and Safety Queensland try to address the transmission of staph infections between fishers "who are cramped together for long periods with limited access to fresh water".

Fishing in Gladstone Harbour was banned for three weeks last year when fish began showing signs of ill health.

[BassTracker]

While there is a risk of litigation and compensation I doubt the cause ever will be found...

[fishingnut]

What a crock of dark stools, dredging the harbour of its sediments has caused the dramas

[Gad]

Any one want a feed of fish and chips from Happy Knackers

Fish illness unknown, but seafood 'safe'

/>http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8399248/cause-of-sick-fish-in-qld-remains-unknown

13:57 AEDT Fri Jan 6 2012

An independent report into sick fish has confirmed seafood caught in Gladstone Harbour is safe to eat, the Queensland government says.

The scientific advisory panel, which handed its report to the state government on Friday, found water quality and sediment in the central Queensland harbour was not connected to the skin lesions and cloudy eyes found in some locally caught fish.

But it was unable to determine what caused the fish to become sick.

Fisheries Minister Craig Wallace said the panel noted a wide range of possible causes including chemicals, nutritional issues and damage to the skin and gills from nets, algal blooms, parasites or bacteria.

He said Fisheries Queensland had found about 95 per cent of fish caught in their monitoring of the central Queensland harbour were in good health.

"And now that the panel has released its findings, there should now be no doubt in anyone's mind that local seafood for sale is a good, safe product," he said in a statement released on Friday.

"Under the Food Act, any animal product which is not fit for human consumption cannot be sold and it has been emphasised by the panel that fish showing signs of disease should not be consumed.

"Considerable damage has been done to the reputation of Gladstone seafood and I urge the local community and all Queenslanders to rally behind the industry to rebuild the brand."

Mr Wallace said the state government accepted the panel's recommendations and would undertake an integrated Gladstone aquatic monitoring program, which would make reports public on a regular basis.

[elops]

" An independent report on sick fish has declared the water in gladstone harbour does not pose a risk to human health" tap water does not pose a risk to human health either, kills fish though.