River’s dead fish puzzle

IT will take at least three days before the government figures out what caused a mass death of fish in the South Johnstone River.

Innisfail men Stewart Odgers and Dylan Smith alerted authorities after finding fish and eels floating in the water and lying on the banks of the South Johnstone River upstream from the Centenary Bridge, south of Innisfail.

Mr Odgers said it was a devastating find.

“We first noticed a bad smell and as we pulled up we saw dead fish everywhere, along the banks, up in the trees, floating in the river – tilapia, barra, jacks, eels, mud cod – the whole works,” he said.

A Department of Environment and Science spokesman said the department received a report about dead fish on Thursday.

“DES environmental officers are attending the site upstream from Innisfail today (yesterday) and investigating the incident,” he said. “The cause of the incident is unknown at this stage.”

He said it was likely investigators would know the cause of death early next week.

Anyone who sees more fish deaths there or in other water wasy should call the pollution hotline on 1300 130 372.