Community Concern Over Shoreline Discovery

Many members of the Hinchinbrook community were left both puzzled and concerned when a local beach goer captured and shared a photo of a dozen deceased fish washed up along the shoreline of Taylor’s Beach.

Observed as Spotted Grunter, Mullet, Flathead, and Archer Fish, similar instances occurred upstream at Victoria Creek in early December of 2024. It’s believed the changing weather conditions are to blame, resulting in low dissolved oxygen levels in area’s waterways.

“Fresh water, hot weather, and small tides make for low oxygen levels in the creeks which isn’t good for the fish population,” shared fisherman, Brett Gossner.

Lynda Kelley had previously come across news of the unusual occurrence online, and once she saw the shoreline firsthand, she felt the need to alert the community to her Christmas Day discovery.

“I posted so people would be aware and maybe not go swimming for a couple of days,” explained Lynda.

“I don’t know more than what people have said about too much fresh water trapped by inactive tides - there were fish on the tide line, and out on the sandbars.”

As outlined by the Australian Government Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, low-oxygen water presents a great risk to aquatic ecosystems, and commonly occurs following recent flooding, or as a result of congested waterways due to a build up of sticks, grass or crops. Although worrying, the natural occurrence is not permanent, and oxygen levels will return to normal within days or sometimes weeks.

Further information surrounding the impacts of low oxygen water can be found online at www.dcceew.gov.au.