Deep in the interior west of Sydney, part of Australia’s main river system, an environmental disaster in New South Wales’s Darling River: millions of dead fish have clogged waterways near the town of Menindee.
Greens spokesperson Cate Faehrmann warned of a “dangerous tragedy that will increasingly compromise water quality,” adding that the fish must be removed as soon as possible before it worsens the ecological disaster.
The New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment is monitoring the situation. Fish deaths, particularly herring, were caused by months of flooding and unusually high temperatures in the river that resulted in extremely low oxygen levels.
The thermometer has recorded record temperatures in recent days, which has exacerbated the already critical situation. While locals complain about the horrible smell, there are videos on social media showing a thick layer of fish swimming in the water that has turned a bright green color in some places.
“This is a real disaster,” continues Cate Faehrmann – Whether as a result of flooding or poor water management, federal and state governments must act now to clean up the millions of rotting fish that cover miles of rivers to prevent further deterioration in water quality. Greens spokesperson,” he said.
In 2019, an algal bloom 40km along the same section of the Darling River killed one million fish, coinciding with a period of high temperatures and drought. The death toll is expected to be higher these days than it was four years ago.
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
