Following the discovery of hundreds of dead fish on a popular beach, an inquiry has been launched.
On the weekend, beachgoers who visited Semaphore Beach in Adelaide were surprised with an unpleasant surprise when fish washed up on the shore.
It is assumed that the fish are sardines or anchovies.
The reason of the mass fish mortality is unknown, but the Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) has initiated an inquiry.
“PIRSA is aware of reports of dead fish in the Point Malcolm region and is investigating the cause,” the agency said in a statement to NCA NewsWire.
The agency stated that large-scale fish mortality might be caused by a variety of factors.
The dead fish are likely sardines or anchovies, according to the Department of Primary Industries and Regions of South Australia.
“Generally speaking, fish kills can be caused by changes in environmental conditions such as temperature, salinity, or oxygen levels, or by the entrance of illness or contaminants,” PIRSA stated.
Once photographs of the dead fish began to spread on social media, other folks provided their own explanations.
One user stated, “When I used to work along that stretch of beach, I encountered big schools of white bait trapped in a pool by a sandbar that prevented them from returning to deeper water.”
Tragically, when the shallow ponds heat up, the fish perish.
Someone else stated that the fish were attempting to avoid a predator and “got trapped” when the tide receded.
In the meanwhile, another individual stated that the cause was recent storm activity.
One user wrote, “All the dirty water washes out to sea when it rains.”
Anyone who discovers “unusual quantities of dead fish” is urged by PIRSA to inform FISHWATCH at 1800 065 522.
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