Australian fishermen are blaming the ongoing dredging at Queensland Harbour for the fish kills that have affected their livelihood. The dredging of 46 million tons of sediments at Gladstone Harbour is part of the AUD 30 billion project to expand the port to accommodate more coal-seam gas export to Asia.
There has been a sharp increase in fish and crustacean deaths in Gladstone since the dredging started, the fishermen claimed. The dredging aims to allow liquid natural gas (LNG) carriers to access the port.
However, the company performing the dredging, Gladstone Ports Corp, denied their work is the reason behind the rise in fish diseases and deaths. The firm insisted the fish deaths and ailments began before it started dredging the harbour.
Following the rise in number of complaints, the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Development (DERD) ordered a scientific review. The result of the review is expected to be out in two weeks. DERD Director General Jim Reeves said there might be a need to adapt or modify the dredging practices if it was found to be responsible for the fish deaths and ailments.
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