Poison found on Qld beaches

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is gathering information to try to determine the original source of toxic canisters containing Aluminium Phosphide which have been collected on Queensland’s beaches.

AMSA is trying to ascertain if the canisters are from a ship, and if they were, was their disposal a deliberate act of pollution or an accidental cargo loss in Australian waters.

The contents of the canisters is commonly used as rat poison and is considered dangerous.

Two canisters were found earlier this week at Five Rocks north of Yeppoon, and there have been discoveries on three beaches south of Gladstone over the past month.

The canisters were also reported last year washing up in north Queensland, between Torres Strait and Ayr.

AMSA has checked incident reports of cargo losses which show no record of a vessel having reported losing this type of cargo.

Working with marine science experts, AMSA is using drift modelling to help rule out some possibilities, such as cargo loss from recent ship groundings or capsizes in the Pacific region.

AMSA has made enquiries with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to assist with determining if the canisters are Australian stock.

Following this research, AMSA will take any available steps to ensure events such as these do not occur. However, it may not be possible to ultimately confirm the original source of the canisters due to the apparently long time lapse between when they may have entered the water and when they have been found.

Queensland police have warned the public not to touch the canisters if they come across them and to report findings to the police.