BHP in clear over stranded fish: DPaW

The Department of Parks and Wildlife has backed BHP Billiton management after some company staff criticised it for not doing enough to rescue fish left stranded and dying on company land near its Nelson Point operations.

Concerned workers had earlier this month estimated more than 100 dead fish and two pelicans could be seen scattered across the dried-up shore of a man-made pond used to capture excess water runoff from BHP's port operations.

BHP originally stocked the pond with fish to control mosquito populations, but in recent months many of them were left high and dry after a spell of dry weather and new recycling initiatives were blamed for drying out the pond.

A DPaW spokeswoman said the issue had been discussed with BHP Billiton.

"It is the department's view that BHP Billiton acted responsibly by implementing its water recycling initiative, thereby contributing positively to the conservation of limited water resources in the Port Hedland area," she said.

"With the implementation of the recycling initiative, this area will revert to a more natural regime of wetting and drying.

"Many aquatic birds will move away, as is the case in any natural ecosystem where natural water bodies dry up due to lack of rainfall and reduced water inflows."

The spokeswoman, however, did not answer questions about the stranded fish, referring the _Telegraph _ to the Department of Water.

Earlier this month a BHP spokeswoman said wet and uncertain conditions near the pond had made it difficult to rescue stranded fish.