Australia: Hundreds of Fish found dead at Menindee

Locals found hundreds of dead fish in the Darling River on southeastern Outback town of Menindee as Niall Blair, the fisheries minister, described the episode as an "environmental catastrophe".

Blair was quoted as saying by The Sydney Morning Herald: "We have an environmental catastrophe that is unfolding at the moment ... in NSW. No-one wins on this".

Inspectors from the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries visited the spot and on Tuesday said further native fish have been found dead, following the adverse weather conditions over the long weekend.

"The majority of the fish were Bony Herrin," read a statement issued by the department.

"Contractors engaged by Central Darling Shire Council removed up to 700kg of deceased fish adjacent to Menindee township yesterday, with similar expectations for today," it said.

The department further said: "A change in wind conditions forecast for tomorrow may allow the use of additional techniques to remove greater amounts of dead fish."

In recent weeks six aerators have been installed along parts of the Darling River, which are providing localised oxygenated water to help fish survive in these extreme conditions.

"The persistent hot and dry conditions are likely to pose ongoing threats to native fish over the remainder of the summer," said the department.

The department said it is also investigating reports of a fish kill near Redbank weir on the Murrumbidgee River and officers from DPI Fisheries are on route to inspect the location.

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