A massive fish die-off has occurred in southeastern Australia, with millions of dead fish washing up on the shores. Experts and authorities have attributed this to a combination of floods and hot weather. The Department of Primary Industries in New South Wales state has stated that the fish deaths are a result of low oxygen levels, which have been aggravated by the warmer weather, putting additional stress on the system that has already been dealing with extreme conditions due to flooding. This event has caused an unpleasant smell, and residents in the Outback town of Menindee have reported being horrified at the sight of the dead fish. Cleanup efforts are underway in the affected areas.
On Thursday evening, nature photographer Geoff Looney discovered large clusters of dead fish near the main weir in Menindee, causing an unbearable stench. Concerned about his own health, he almost had to put on a mask. Looney was also worried about the quality of the water that flowed to the town's pumping station. Reports of mass fish deaths have been surfacing on the Darling-Baaka River in recent weeks, with tens of thousands of fish found in the same location in late February. There have also been numerous accounts of dead fish downstream near Pooncarie, close to the borders of South Australia and Victoria. During the severe drought conditions in late 2018 and early 2019, the river at Menindee witnessed massive fish deaths, with locals estimating the death of millions of fish.
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