SARDI Fish Deaths

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:27): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries about the fish deaths at SARDI West Beach facility.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: The opposition has repeatedly asked questions about the potential causes of these fish deaths at SARDI West Beach facility, and the minister has on multiple occasions replied that her department, SARDI, was conducting an investigation. My questions to the minister are:

1. Has SARDI completed this investigation?

2. If so, when will the minister release the report?

3. Has the minister disregarded the vote carried in this place and decided against completing an independent investigation into these fish and oyster deaths?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:28): I thank the honourable member for her question. Mortalities of snapper larvae—it is important to be specific about the mortalities that occurred—oyster spat and barramundi broodstock occurred from mid October to early November 2024. As we have mentioned before, there has been some impact on the government snapper restocking program, but that is now underway to be able to, if you like, catch up with that program, and also the state's oyster industry-funded Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome resistant family line program. Both of those are located at PIRSA's SARDI research facilities at West Beach. There is also, of course, a private barramundi nursery and hatchery that is co-located.

SARDI and Robarra have recommenced aquaculture activities and are closely monitoring the incoming water via thrice daily water testing and filtration monitoring. Additional lines of investigation have been undertaken so that we can get as much information as possible about these matters.