Low Oxygen Levels in Australia’s Second Longest River Caused Mass Fish Die-Off, Say Authorities

Environmental authorities have confirmed that low levels of oxygen in the Darling River, Australia’s second longest river, caused a recent mass fish die-off in a remote part of New South Wales state.

This week, thousands of dead fish were discovered in the river near Menindee, located approximately 1,000km (620 miles) west of the state capital, Sydney.

This is not the first instance of mass fish deaths in the area; in 2018 and 2019, up to a million fish died due to factors such as poor water flow, poor water quality, and sudden temperature changes.

The water division of the NSW Department of Planning and Environment tweeted that they are concerned about dissolved oxygen levels and its impact on fish health in the affected area.

On Friday, the agency reported that there had been a significant number of fish deaths, mostly Bony Herring, in the Darling River between Lake Wetherell and Menindee township.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Saturday that state fisheries officers had been sent to the area to assess the issue, as hundreds of thousands of dead fish had been found in the river.