Queensland authorities are investigating the deaths of thousands of fish that have washed up on a popular Gold Coast beach. The state environment department confirmed that dead baitfish have been observed at The Spit, at the northern end of the Gold Coast, since last Wednesday, but no obvious source of pollution has been found.
Water quality monitoring conducted by the department indicated high water temperature and low dissolved oxygen in the area, conditions that can cause fish kills. Local residents have expressed frustration that warning signs were not in place for swimmers, with many posting videos of dead fish along the shore over the weekend.
Kath Down, president of Save Our Southern Gold Coast, described the scene as 'thousands of fish that had obviously been there a long time' and said the smell was terrible. She raised concerns about families with young children swimming in the area while the cause remains unknown.
Despite the fish deaths, a Gold Coast city council spokesperson stated that water quality testing has shown the water is safe for swimming, but urged people to avoid the area during the clean-up. The council is working with the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation to investigate the matter.
Dr Leonardo Guida, a marine biologist at the Australian Marine Conservation Society, said that while the cause is still being determined, early reports suggest temperature-related stress leading to low oxygen levels. He explained that as water temperature rises, fish require more oxygen, and if the water becomes too hot to hold enough oxygen, the fish effectively choke to death.
This incident follows a pattern of marine heatwaves affecting Australian waters, with recent examples including mass fish deaths from an algal bloom in South Australia and coral bleaching off Western Australia. The department is reviewing water samples and has urged the public to report any further fish deaths to the pollution hotline.
