Drain discharge link to dead fish
9th October 2008, 6:00 WST
The Department of Environment and Conservation is investigating the deaths of more than 70 fish, mainly bream, in the Swan River after they were found near the Barrack Street jetty yesterday.
It has sent water and fish samples to the Chemistry Centre for analysis.
DEC environmental hazards manager Ken Raine said it appeared the fish died as a result of discharge from a nearby drain. “At this stage we’re not certain of what’s in the discharge or where it came from,” Mr Raine said.
The Health Department has advised people not to swim or fish in the immediate area. The fish kill comes less than two months after the Water Corporation was forced to suspend maintenance work on a supply line in South Perth after about 80 dead black bream were found in a lake where the water was being pumped.