State minister receives death threats over Murray Darling fish disaster

Death threats have been levelled at a state minister over an ecological disaster that’s now believed to have killed up to a million fish in the Murray Darling basin.

Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair visited the site of the crisis in the state’s far west on Wednesday as more distressing video surfaced.

Furious locals wanted to confront Mr Blair when he travelled to Menindee, but a scheduled meeting with residents was cancelled due to concerns for his safety.

However, two farmers were still able to get their point across without meeting Mr Blair after their emotional video calling for action became viral.

Footage of Rob McBride and Dick Arnold shows the pair standing in the Darling River, cradling a pair of giant dead fish they claimed were 100 years old.

The clip has already been seen close to three million times on social media.

“This is nothing to do with drought, this is a man-made disaster brought to you by the NSW government, federal government and Murray Darling authority,” Mr McBride said in the video.

Despite surviving decades of highs and lows in the Darling River and numerous droughts over the years, the critically-endangered Murray cod, such as the ones held by Mr McBride and Mr Arnold, have fallen victim to the extreme conditions.

Locals have blamed the crisis on the draining of the Menindee Lakes which has created stagnant water and blue green algae, depriving the fish of oxygen.

“This isn’t normal. This is a man made-disaster and it’s absolutely devastating,” Kate McBride from Tolarno Farm told 7News.

It’s believed to be one of the biggest fish kills in history.

Mr Blair has said the drought is the reason for the conditions.

His solution will now be to release more water down the lower Darling, with about 50 megalitres a day planned.

“That will buy us a bit more time during the hotter parts of the summer,” he said.