Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Investigation
Manual
FisheryReportNo.70
ISBN0724547053
JANUARY2004
Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development
Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................3
Section A ..............................................................................................4
References ................................................................................................................ 6
Section B ............................................................................................ 11
INTRODUCTION
Fish kills (observed deaths of fish) are a common occurrence in the Northern Territory. In most
cases they are caused by natural events, such as rain and associated freshwater run-off between
October and February. However, because these events are often very visible, they can cause
considerable concern in the community.
The "Fish Kill Manual" is designed as an informative guide on the notification, assessment,
collection and recording of a fish kill event. A fish identification sheet is included along with
detachable fish kill reporting sheets.
There may be a single or a combination of causes for fish kills. It is therefore important that
information recording and sample collection is carried out as described in the manual
(Appendix 4 and Section B). With accurate information and suitable samples the cause of a fish
kill can be rapidly determined.
The Office of Environment and Heritage is the lead agency to respond to reports of fish kill. It will
liaise with other relevant organisations including the Department of Business, Industry and Resource
Development (DBIRD), the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment (DIPE) and the
Amateur Fishermen's Association of the Northern Territory (AFANT) when necessary.
SECTION A
What is a Fish Kill?
A 'Fish Kill' is a sudden death of a large number of aquatic animals including fish, prawns and
crabs (Department of Environment and Heritage, 1998). Fish kills can occur in marine, estuarine
and inland waters and usually take place in a defined area and over a short period of time.
c) pH stress
pH is the measure of water acidity and can vary greatly in the natural environment. Generally,
freshwater streams are slightly acidic whereas estuarine water bodies may be slightly alkaline.
Sudden changes and extremes in pH (i.e. acidic or alkaline) may be lethal to fish, either directly,
or indirectly through the mobilisation of heavy metals from soils. In extreme cases, acidic
"burning" of the gills indicated by, brown discolouration of the gills or excessive mucous
secretion may be evident on the affected fish (EPA, 1997). The change in pH levels can occur
naturally, through runoff from acid-sulphate soils or artificially through industrial effluent,
contaminated runoff and acid or alkali spills (Department of Environment and Heritage, 1998).
e) Water temperature
Exposure to extreme water temperatures is a potential cause of fish kills. This may happen in
the Northern Territory towards the end of the dry season, when the water temperature of the
shallow exposed billabongs may exceed the tolerance range of the fish, resulting in fish deaths.
Water temperature may affect fish in two ways. The metabolic activity of fish (oxygen
consumption) is related to temperature; an increase in temperature will increase metabolic
activity. Water temperature also affects the amount of soluble oxygen in the water, with
increasing temperatures decreasing oxygen levels. Consequently in very warm billabongs, fish
metabolism and thus oxygen consumption is high whilst the potential concentration of dissolved
oxygen is low.
However, as with other water quality variables, tolerance levels do vary between species of fish
and most species are generally tolerant to temperature extremes when gradually acclimatised
(EPA 1997).
One of the common naturally occurring pathogens in the Northern Territory is red-spot
(epizootic ulcerative syndrome). This affects a number of native species including the
barramundi, silver scats, catfish, mullet and saratoga, and is believed to occur during the dry
season when cooler water conditions are experienced. Signs of this disease may include small
and large red areas, deep ulcers, opaque eyes and fin damage (Pearce, 1990). Usually
histopathological examination of fresh tissue is required to determine the presence of diseases.
h) Pollution
Pollutants can come from a variety of sources including industrial waste, sewage and
agricultural chemicals (pesticides and insecticides). Pollution can kill fish either by direct
poisoning or indirectly, by a catastrophic change in water quality. It is often difficult to identify
the cause of a chemical fish kill. The quick dilution in run-off, tidal situations and rapid (less
than 48 hrs) degradation of the many common pesticides and insecticides (Reynolds and
Scribner, 1986) often removes any evidence of a chemical spill. Poisoned fish (affected by
pollutants) often show signs of internal hemorrhaging and erratic swimming behaviour or
tremors (EPA,1997).
References
Environment Protection Authority, (1997). Protocols for the Investigation of Fish kills and
incidents involving other Biota. Draft Report.
Meyer, F.P. and Herman, R.L. (1990). Interpreting the Scene, in Field Manual for the
Investigation of Fish Kills (F.P Meyer and L.A. Barclay, eds.). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
resource publication 177.
Pearce, M. (1990). Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome (Red-Spot disease). Fishnote 1. The
Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries.
Reynolds, L.F. and Scribner, E.A. (1986) Fish Kills Advisory Note. 4/86. Department of
Agriculture New South Wales
The Department of Environment and Heritage (1998). Fish Kill Reporting and Investigation
Manual. The Department of Environment and Heritage, Queensland Government.
Appendix 1.
Fish Kill - Interpretation Guide
Causes of Death
Physical signs Oxygen depletion Toxic algae bloom Pesticide toxicity
associated
with fish death
Behaviour of Gulping and Convulsions, erratic Convulsions, erratic
affected fish swimming at surface swimming, lethargy swimming, lethargy
Species selectivity Most to all fish dead, None Some species more
of kill some species tolerant tolerant, one species
to depletion dies before others.
Size of fish affected Large fish first to die Small fish first to die Small fish first to die
Time of fish kill Early morning and During the hours of Any time during the day
night bright sunlight or night
Water colour Black, grey or brown Dark green, brown or Normal colour and
golden often with a odour
strong odour.
Algae and plankton Dying algae, small One algae species If insecticide no
abundance amount of zooplankton abundant, small zooplankton, algae
amount of zooplankton present, if herbicide
algae may be absent
Appendix 2.
Fish Identification Sheet
Appendix 3.
Collection of Fish Samples
If requested, samples of fish should be collected as described below. Note: The DBIRD Fisheries
Research Division should be notified prior to sample collection in order to prepare for an autopsy.
Only a small number of fish (5-10) are required for an autopsy. The fish should represent the
range of species and size of stressed or deceased fish observed. An autopsy will examine the
affected fish for infections (parasite, bacterial, viral) and physical condition. To investigate
these conditions the samples must be stored in several different ways, as shown below.
Stressed fish should be placed in plastic bags containing water and kept alive.
Recently deceased fish (less than 6 hrs old) must be:
1) placed on ice or refrigerated;
2) frozen: or
3) 'fixed' in *formalin (if available).
Samples must be delivered to Berrimah Farm within 48 hrs of collection.
* This is a hazardous chemical and should only be handled by trained personnel. Safety gear
including gloves, apron and glasses is essential.
Resource Management
Division
Appendix 4.
Office of Environment
Fisheries Group and Heritage
On Site Survey/
Sample Collection
AFANT
DIPE/DBIRD ASSESSMENT
Action taken by
relevant Agency
DEPARTMENTAL BRIEF
OfficeofEnvironmentandHeritagetocoordinatetheagreedresponseintermsoffishandwatersamplescollected.
10
Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development
Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development
SECTION B
REPORTING FORM
Name:
Address:
Telephone:
Location Details:
Name of Fish
Kill Site:
Other
Sketch Map:
Sketch the water body in which the fish kill occurred.
Include in the sketch:
1) direction of north;
2) access roads;
3) site of dead fish;
4) wind direction at time of sampling;
5) photo location and direction, and direction of water flow.
change in shoreline
other
other:
other:
Site Observations:
Extent of kill (metres of shoreline, area coverage of water, number of fish)
Indicate on sketch map if appropriate
Any other forms of wildlife affected (please specify types and how affected)
Species of Fish Affected and Unaffected. (Refer to fish ID sheet, Appendix 3.)
Body Damage
Number
Dead
Number
Stressed
Unaffected
Number
Range (cm)
Length
Species