Question Time

SARDI Fish Deaths

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:21): My questions are to the Minister for Primary Industries on the investigative report on mortalities of finfish and shellfish hatcheries at the South Australian Aquatic Sciences Centre:

1. Why were no water samples collected at the time mortalities were first observed, despite reports from Robarra and SARDI staff indicating abnormal fish behaviour and suspected toxicity as early as 14 October?

2. Given the report acknowledges that acute toxicity often leaves no histological trace, why was there no protocol in place to immediately test for dissolved contaminants like sulphides or copper at the time of the event?

3. Does the minister accept that the absence of real-time water quality sampling during the mortality events has rendered the investigation fundamentally, and some may say conveniently, inconclusive?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:22): I thank the honourable member for her question. Our very well qualified and world-renowned SARDI staff at the institute of course were most concerned when there appeared behaviour and impacts on fish that were not consistent with their usual operations. Based on previous experience, SARDI staff focused on potential biosecurity issues and fish health in the first instance. Once it was clear that it was not a potential biosecurity issue causing the mortalities focus turned to water quality testing.

In its past decades of operation the West Beach site has not had a water quality issue, which is why it was not the immediate focus of SARDI staff as they responded to these events. Obviously, through these unfortunate events as well as the subsequent investigations that have been undertaken, it became clear that this was indeed a gap, and it was a gap that has been addressed.

Implementing the learnings from the investigations that SARDI undertook, SARDI now has a focus on water quality at the site, has changed its procedures and has installed sensors that detect changes in water chemistry. That is obviously an appropriate way to go and means that if there should be any similar events in the future there will be a broader range of evidence available to be able to make an assessment.

However, it is worth noting that there were a wide range of different pieces of evidence that were available that they were able to look at. Obviously that meant that there were a number of things that were able to be ruled out. As always, when something like fish deaths occur those involved with research continue to learn and apply those learnings.