A photo of the Rockingham fish kill Art H sent to the Bell Tower Times on Twitter.
Camera IconA photo of the Rockingham fish kill Art H sent to the Bell Tower Times on Twitter. Credit: Supplied/Vanessa Schmitt

Massive fish kill in Rockingham

Jaime ShurmerWeekend Kwinana Courier

FISHERIES staff estimate more than a thousand scaly mackerel were involved in a fish kill today.

No other species of fish were observed in the area between Palm Beach jetty and the Rockingham Yacht Club jetty, which is about 500m.

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s Brad Tilley said Fisheries officers responded to a fish kill report yesterday at Palm Beach Jetty, with seven fish washed ashore, but no dead fish were observed by officers.

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This morning a further report was received with more than a thousand fish seen.

A photo of the fish kill Art H posted on Twitter.
Camera IconA photo of the fish kill Art H posted on Twitter. Credit: Supplied/Vanessa Schmitt

A member of the public reported dead fish could be seen in the shallows up to a kilometre towards the Kwinana bulk cargo terminal.

“The fish samples have been delivered to DPIRD Aquatic Diagnostics, and the water samples to the Department of Water and Environment Regulation’s phytoplankton ecology unit,” Mr Tilley said.

“The Aquatic Diagnostics group expect to have assessed the fish samples taken within a day or two, however sometimes diagnostic analysis does not determine conclusive causes.

“The water samples will also be assessed and results may be available tomorrow.

“Fisheries officers will continue to monitor the beaches in case of further fish deaths, and any additional species that may be observed.”