Millions of dead fish were found in a state of decay, filling a large part of a river in the southeast Australiawhich is affected by a strong heat wave, as the local authorities announced on Friday.
The New South Wales state government said “millions” fish are dead in the Darling River near the village of Menidi and that this is the third time since 2018 that such a phenomenon has been observed in the area.
Videos posted on social media show boats sailing through a thick layer of floating dead fish that makes the surface of the water almost invisible.
“It’s truly horrible, there are dead fish as far as the eye can see”Graeme Makrab, a resident of Menidi, tells AFP, and speaks of “incalculable” environmental consequences.
According to the local government, fish populations in the river had increased significantly after the recent floods, but the waters have since receded.
“The death of these fish is linked to the low level of oxygen in the water (hypoxia) as flood waters recede.”the local government explained in a statement, adding that the heat wave is exacerbating this phenomenon.
Previous mass fish kills in Menidi had already been attributed to the lowering of the river level, but also to the spread of a toxic alga over almost 40 kilometers.
Menidi, a village of 500 inhabitants has been severely affected in recent years by floods and drought.
Source: News Beast
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