Environmental authorities have commenced an investigation after an estimated 4,000 dead fish washed up on the banks of the Parramatta River.
After images and videos began appearing on social media of the dead fish, The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) began investigating into the circumstances surrounding the event. Revealing in a media release on Tuesday, February 8, the EPA said that “low dissolved oxygen” was at fault for the fish kills.
“A fish kill was reported at Haslams Creek on Thursday, February 3, which flows into Homebush Bay and on Monday, February 7, the EPA received a report of a fish kill on the Parramatta River at Rydalmere,” the statement said.
“Preliminary investigations indicate low oxygen levels were most likely due to natural causes. Observations by EPA Officers indicate low oxygen levels were caused by high intensity storms that washed organic matter into the waterway, which combined with elevated water temperatures, has caused the fish deaths.
“The EPA is working with Parramatta Council to clean-up. Where possible, dead fish that are easy to reach, without trampling the mangroves will be removed.
“It is distressing to see a significant number of fish killed and a variety of species impacted.”
Kellie Darley, an independent councillor at the City of Parramatta, shared in a Facebook post on Sunday, February 6, that the masses of dead fish that washed up along the shores of the river was “just shocking.”
“I came down to see for myself and the whole thing is made even worse by the large amount of rubbish along this stretch – hard to tell the dead fish amongst all the litter – but they are there in large numbers sadly,” Ms Darley said.
Ms Darley believes the event is a timely reminder to dispose of grass clippings and leaves in green bins and make sure only water goes down the drain.
The EPA said they would continue to monitor the water quality at Rydalmere.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.