Coorong Fish Deaths

In reply to the Hon. T.A. FRANKS ().18 June 2024).

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries): I am advised:

1. On 10 April 2024 the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) biosecurity division was made aware of a Facebook post by a member of the public to the 'SA Natureteers' group indicating that there had been a fish kill in the South Lagoon region of the Coorong. No report was made via the FishWatch hotline.

PIRSA Biosecurity coordinated with the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) for a district ranger to attend the site and carry out an investigation. A DEW district ranger attended the area indicated in the Facebook post on the morning of 11 April 2024 and could not locate any fish kill.

2. The public holiday did not affect the departmental response time to the June fish kill event as PIRSA did not receive fish kill location information until after the public holiday on Tuesday 11 June 2024.

The earliest confirmed fish kill in the South Lagoon region of the Coorong was reported to PIRSA via news media on 3 June. No location details were made available. No report was made to the FishWatch hotline.

The location of the incident was not available at the time of that first report and so a site visit could not be undertaken. Site location details were received on 11 June 2024 and a site visit was then undertaken within 24 hours to collect water samples and environmental measurements.