❓ A parliamentary question addresses potential causes of recent fish deaths in Cockburn Sound, including low oxygen levels, warm temperatures, and salinity. The Minister acknowledges these as contributing factors, noting higher than normal temperatures but no elevated salinity.
AnsweredQoN 1457Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
COCKBURN SOUND — FISH STOCK LOSSES
1457. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the Minister for Fisheries:
(1) Were anoxic—low oxygen—conditions a
likely cause of recent fish deaths in Cockburn Sound?
(2) If yes to (1), what are the known potential causes of low
oxygen levels in the sound?
(3) Is it likely that warm ocean temperatures were also a
factor in the fish deaths?
(4) If yes to (3), can the minister please give details?
(5) What evidence is there that elevated or unusual salinity
levels were a factor in the fish deaths?
1457. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the Minister for Fisheries:
(1) Were anoxic—low oxygen—conditions a
likely cause of recent fish deaths in Cockburn Sound?
(2) If yes to (1), what are the known potential causes of low
oxygen levels in the sound?
(3) Is it likely that warm ocean temperatures were also a
factor in the fish deaths?
(4) If yes to (3), can the minister please give details?
(5) What evidence is there that elevated or unusual salinity
levels were a factor in the fish deaths?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) Low oxygen levels may be a
contributing cause to the recent fish deaths.
(2) Low oxygen levels can be caused
by algal blooms and eutrophication.
(3) Warm ocean temperatures may be a
contributing factor to the fish deaths.
(4) Surface
temperatures of Cockburn Sound at that time were higher than is normal for this
time of the year.
(5) No available data for the period
shows elevated levels of salinity in the sound.
some notice of the question.
(1) Low oxygen levels may be a
contributing cause to the recent fish deaths.
(2) Low oxygen levels can be caused
by algal blooms and eutrophication.
(3) Warm ocean temperatures may be a
contributing factor to the fish deaths.
(4) Surface
temperatures of Cockburn Sound at that time were higher than is normal for this
time of the year.
(5) No available data for the period
shows elevated levels of salinity in the sound.
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