EPA Probe Into Stingray, Shark Deaths

November 2, 2006

Release from: Mex Cooper
Geelong Info (Australia)

Dead stingrays and fish formed a gruesome trail along a North Shore beach yesterday.

More than 30 stingrays, a banjo shark and snapper were found dead on the waterfront in front of the Shell refinery where Shell Pde meets Foreshore Rd.

An EPA officer called out to the scene said she was shocked at the number of dead stingrays.

"I didn't expect anything like this," she said.

The EPA is investigating the deaths and took a number of samples from the water and carcasses.

"Until we get the results from the samples we are not going to name definitive causes," she said.

Shell spokeswoman Jessica Marriner said the company would undertake its own investigations as standard procedure.

"We are concerned about the incident but we do not believe it is connected to the refinery," she said.

The stingrays and fish were found in a small area leading from the beach to the entrance of a roadside drain.

Many were still floating in the water, providing a feast for seagulls and pelicans.

Geelong Advertiser fishing writer Geoff Wilson said stingrays were attracted to a shallow bank in the water between the refinery and Geelong Grammar, particularly when the weather was warm.

He said commercial fishing nets may have picked up the stingrays and undersized snapper.

"The only thing that comes to mind is that they were conducting a commercial fishing operation and have winched the net up on the beach and grabbed the fish and left the stingrays and undersized snapper," Mr Wilson said.

Department of Primary Industries spokesman Alan Everett said the department would be cooperating with the EPA investigation.

EPA spokeswoman Ruth Ward said the investigation's results could take several weeks.