Chemicals blamed for two-headed fish on Sunshine Coast
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2008/s2464494.htm
BRENDAN TREMBATH: The use of agricultural chemicals is under scrutiny after two-headed fish were discovered on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
One grower has lost millions of Australian bass which died within 48 hours of being hatched.
The Department of Primary Industries is investigating as fingers point towards a neighbouring macadamia plantation.
James Kelly reports.
JAMES KELLY: Forget the two-headed jokes in humans. The discovery of two- headed fish at a Sunshine Coast hatchery is being taken very seriously by growers, farming groups and government authorities.
University of Sydney researcher Dr Matt Landos says in the past few months a fish farm on the Noosa River has lost millions of Australian bass within 48 hours of them being hatched.
MATT LANDOS: It's quite extraordinary. In fact it was several groups of brood fish all of which came from the Noosa River had batches of larvae that were severely deformed with the primary deformity being two heads.
JAMES KELLY: Mr Landos says the hatchery is adjacent to a macadamia nut farm.
MATT LANDOS: There's a range of chemicals used, one in particular called carbendazim was removed from registration in the US in 2001 under a product name of Benomyl.
One of the other chemicals still used in Australia widely is one called endosulfan which has only recently been banned in New Zealand. It's also banned in the US and the EU but we also use that one here.
JAMES KELLY: He says spray drift or run-off could have made its way to the hatchery.
MATT LANDOS: For the fish larvae the most minute of doses can impact on their cells and cause damage.
JAMES KELLY: The Australian Macadamia Society says the two-headed fish phenomenon is disturbing. But the chief executive officer Jolyon Burnett says none of the chemicals used on the property are banned.
JOLYON BURNETT: Certainly endosulfan has been linked in the past to fish kills(phonetic) in cotton but I'm not sure that there's been any conclusive evidence one way or another in this case.
JAMES KELLY: Mr Burnett says the Federal Government recently looked at the chemicals and confirmed their registration here.
JOLYON BURNETT: The grower in question was applying the chemicals not only in accordance with the label requirements but also in accordance with best practice guidelines.
JAMES KELLY: Queensland's Department of Primary Industries is investigating. Chief veterinary officer Ron Glanville says tests have been carried out on both farms.
RON GLANVILLE: It's certainly too early to put the blame on anything. These sorts of issues in fish hatcheries can be caused by a range of conditions or issues, not just chemical residues or chemical spray drift. Even things like nutrition can affect mortalities in young fish and abnormalities.
JAMES KELLY: The final test results should be known within a few weeks.
BRENDAN TREMBATH: James Kelly.