Approximately 30,000 Fish Die Off the Coast of Australia Due to Abnormal Heat

The Guardian reports that a mass fish kill has been recorded off the west coast of Australia. Approximately 30,000 dead fish have washed ashore. The cause of their death may have been an abnormal rise in water temperature.

The fish kill stretched for 9 km along the Pilbara coast. Coastal waters in the area have warmed to 31°C, which is 2-3 degrees above normal for this time of year. Last week, water temperatures near Pilbara were 4-5 degrees above normal.

An investigation into the cause of the incident is currently underway. Preliminary estimates suggest that the fish died after prolonged heat stress. Such marine heat anomalies can last from several days to months and have a devastating impact on ecosystems. Ecologists fear that the overheating of the water threatens Exmouth and Shark Bays, as well as the Ningaloo Reef, where coral bleaching was recorded three years ago.

The marine heat anomaly in Australia is accompanied by prolonged extreme heat on land. In the coming days, record high temperatures are expected in several areas of the western part of the country.

It is noted that one of the strongest heat anomalies was recorded off the coast of Western Australia in 2010-2011. It led to the mass destruction of algae and seriously affected populations of abalone and scallops.