Victoria calls in army to save bushfire-hit fish
Soldiers called in to open Marlo River estuary to the sea to flush out ash and debrisVictoria’s fisheries management authority has called in the army in a desperate bid to prevent widespread fish kills in the wake of the East Gippsland bushfires.
The Snowy River estuary is currently cut off from Bass Strait. However, soldiers are opening a channel to the sea in the hope that ash from the East Gippsland bushfires washes out of the river system, and doesn’t become a threat to native fish stocks.
A channel is being dug out by hand.
The fires have already sparked fish kills in the Upper Murray system, with reports of large numbers of dead cod, redfin and carp.
Heavy rains this week have washed large amounts of ash into NSW and Victorian river systems, lowering oxygen levels and choking fish.
“Recent rain is washing ash and bushfire debris into the estimate at Marlo, which is currently closed to the sea but filling quickly,” the Victorian Fisheries Authority said.
“We know this material can cause fish deaths so it’s been decided to try and open the estuary mouth artificially.
“Fisheries staff are helping out alongside Parks Victoria, DELWP (Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning) Gippsland, the East Gippsland Water Catchment Authority and Defence Australia.
“No fish have been reported dead.”
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