'Floods and Fish Kills'

2LM MEDIA RELEASE: COSTS & SOLUTIONS.
FLOOD AFTERMATH.

Attention: Phillipa & Ruth.

In the aftermath of the flood, fish and crustacean stocks have been absolutely decimated and the kills continue, unabated.

The Richmond River closure is initially for two (2) months, at least. No one realistically expects it to be re-opened, at the end of that period. The outlook is bleak. The river had only just recovered from the 2001 environmental disaster and this current event is looking immeasurably worse.

Again, ECOfishers, have put the welfare of the fisheries resource, ahead of their own social and economic considerations.

The Evan?s River too, is now also being closely monitored.

During the two month initial closure, the community requires constant scientific monitoring and sampling of fish and crustacean stocks, water quality and estuarine processes.

We need to know when the river will be of habitable quality for fish and crustacean stocks, when, how and where the recruitment and repopulation of these stocks takes place and at what rate. And eventually, when the river water, will be of sufficient quality and quantity, that it can be re-opened, for fishers. Realistically, it could be many months away.

A lot of the causes and outcomes, of fish kills can be mitigated against and minimised. It requires a community effort, to improve floodplain uses and management.

Our river is a valuable community resource. We now need to decide, once and for all, if we want this valuable community resource, to remain as an agricultural drain, or as a healthy, viable , thriving estuarine ecosystem, for all to enjoy.

The question of who pays for this scientific monitoring during the recovery and resuscitation stage remains unresolved. Ultimately, the community will pay, because it is absolutely essential.

The enormous cost of this recent flood can be reduced significantly in the future, with better flood plain uses and management. So it makes sound economic sense to plan and initiate these measures immediately.

The NSW government readily throws millions upon millions of taxpayer dollars, imposing ?Mickey mouse marine parks,? upon reluctant coastal communities, while one of the real threats to the marine environment, that is, pollution, goes unaddressed.

If the government?s marine park budget, was used to address real threats to the marine environment, such as pollution, coastal communities would be a lot happier. And the marine biodiversity, fish and crustacean stocks, would be a lot healthier.

Ken Thurlow
CEO ECOfishers NSW.