'Deliberate and callous act': Thousands of dead fish wash up on banks of NSW creek
Conservationists have pointed the finger at a local council after thousands of dead fish washed up on the banks of a northern NSW creek.
Byron Shire Council removed a sand bank at Tallow Creek last Friday, after locals complained about flooding in their yards.
But the dramatic decrease in water levels caused the amount of oxygen in the creek to drop, resulting in the death of thousands of fish.
On Saturday, thousands of mullet, bream, whiting, flathead and eels were reportedly found either dead on the banks, or gasping for air in the shallows.
Conservationist Dailan Pugh called the move “callous”, saying one million fish were deliberately killed when the council removed the sand bank.
“At the time there was no rain and thus it was certain that without inflows of fresh oxygenated water, the draining would result in water becoming deoxygenated and fish suffocating, as has occurred time and time again,” he wrote on Facebook.
The conservationist called the mass fish kill “inevitable” and lambasted the council for not taking responsibility, claiming they made no effort to monitor the kill or intervene to stop the pain and suffering of so many fish.
“It was a deliberate and callous act of environmental vandalism. Someone should be prosecuted,” he wrote.
Fish kill despite council’s ‘best efforts’
Byron Shire Council confirmed in a statement that the mouth of the creek was opened to the ocean on Friday because the sand bank at its entrance had built up.
“This was causing flooding into people’s yards and the Suffolk Park footpath was also flooded,” James Flockton, Flood and Drainage Engineer, said.
“Opening the mouth of Tallow Creek is strictly controlled and can only be done with support from NPWS, DPI Fisheries and the Cape Byron Marine Park Authority.”
The fish kill occurred despite the council’s “best efforts” to undertake the artificial opening at high tide to minimise the rapid release of water, Mr Flockton added.
“Everything is done to try to avoid a fish kill but sometimes, despite best efforts, they do occur and it is upsetting for staff and everyone involved.”
Byron Shire Council staff will be meeting with NPWS, the Cape Byron Marine Park Authority, Crown Lands and Arakwal next week to discuss the fish kill.
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