The City's response to 9news digital, 9News Perth and ABC Perth about a fish kill event in ocean off the Cockburn's coastline, 10.1.25
UPDATE: The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development enquiries have determined that the scaly mackerel fish which washed up on beaches in Cockburn were likely due to an unintended failure of a commercial fish net. See the updated media release on their
website.
Statement:
After being closed overnight as a precaution, beaches in the City of Cockburn between Ammo Jetty at Woodman Point and the Omeo wreck in North Coogee will be open today (10.1.25) as usual.
No dead fish were left on the beach and none were observed floating in the water or washing up on the beach this morning.
A beach cleaning contractor attended the beach early this morning with a machine that sifts through the sand and picked up approximately one bucket of dead fish (scaly mackerel) between Omeo wreck and Coogee Beach Jetty and then further south towards Coogee Beach Surf Life Saving Club.
In response to information from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, the City of Cockburn has this morning temporarily closed C.Y. O’Connor Beach, south of the Catherine Point groyne, in North Coogee.
Between 200-300 dead fish have been observed washed ashore on the popular dog exercise each, and temporary ‘beach closed’ signage has been placed at the McTaggart Cove entrance to the beach.
A contractor has been engaged to remove the dead fish today and the beach closure sign will be removed once the clean-up is complete.
Regardless of whether beaches are closed, the following DPIRD advice applies:
- Not to swim in areas of water with large numbers of dead and decomposing fish because they may contain high levels of bacteria and have an objectionable odour
- Not to fish in water with large numbers of dead fish
- Temporarily not to collect or consume fish from the waters near a fish kill
- Not to collect and use dead fish for bait or consumption because of the risk of high levels of bacteria
- Not to allow pets and other animals to come into contact with dead or decomposing fish either in the water or on shore.
People are encouraged to call the DPIRD FishWatch 24/7 reporting service on 1800 815 507 to report fish kills.