EcoWatch
Facebook 558k Twitter 222k Instagram 52k Subscribe Subscribe
  • Climate
  • Energy
  • Conservation
  • Food + Agriculture
  • Renewables
  • Oceans
  • Policy
  • Insights + Opinion
  • Go Solar Today
      • Top Companies By State
        • California Solar Companies
        • Texas Solar Companies
        • New York Solar Companies
        • Florida Solar Companies
        • See All States
      • Top Incentives By State
        • California Solar Incentives
        • Texas Solar Incentives
        • New York Solar Incentives
        • Florida Solar Incentives
        • See All States
      • Solar Panel Costs By State
        • Solar Panel Costs in California
        • Solar Panel Costs in Texas
        • Solar Panel Costs in New York
        • Solar Panel Costs in Florida
        • See All States
      • Value of Solar by State
        • Is Solar Worth It In California?
        • Is Solar Worth It in Texas?
        • Is Solar Worth It New York?
        • Is Solar Worth It In Florida?
        • See All States
      • Company Reviews
        • Tesla Solar Review
        • Sunrun Solar Review
        • SunPower Solar Review
        • Vivint Solar Review
        • See All Companies
      • Common Solar Questions
        • Can You Get Free Solar Panels?
        • Does Solar Increase Home Value?
        • What’re The Best Solar Batteries?
        • Can You Finance Solar?
        • Where To Buy Solar Panels?
        • Payback On Solar Panels?
      • Solar Resources
        • Interactive Solar Calculator
        • Federal Solar Tax Credit
        • Best Solar Panels For Most Homes
        • Tesla Solar Roof Review
        • Cheapest Solar Panels
      • Companies Compared
        • SunPower vs Tesla Solar
        • SunRun vs Tesla Solar
        • SunRun vs SunPower
        • SunPower vs Momentum Solar
        • SunPower vs ADT Solar
EcoWatch
  • Climate
  • Energy
  • Conservation
  • Food + Agriculture
  • Renewables
  • Oceans
  • Policy
  • Insights + Opinion
  • Go Solar Today
    • Go Solar Today
    • Top Companies By State
      • California Solar Companies
      • Texas Solar Companies
      • New York Solar Companies
      • Florida Solar Companies
      • See All States
    • Top Incentives By State
      • California Solar Incentives
      • Texas Solar Incentives
      • New York Solar Incentives
      • Florida Solar Incentives
      • See All States
    • Solar Panel Costs By State
      • Solar Panel Costs in California
      • Solar Panel Costs in Texas
      • Solar Panel Costs in New York
      • Solar Panel Costs in Florida
      • See All States
    • Value of Solar by State
      • Is Solar Worth It In California?
      • Is Solar Worth It in Texas?
      • Is Solar Worth It New York?
      • Is Solar Worth It In Florida?
      • See All States
    • Company Reviews
      • Tesla Solar Review
      • Sunrun Solar Review
      • SunPower Solar Review
      • Vivint Solar Review
      • See All Companies
    • Common Solar Questions
      • Can You Get Free Solar Panels?
      • Does Solar Increase Home Value?
      • What’re The Best Solar Batteries?
      • Can You Finance Solar?
      • Where To Buy Solar Panels?
      • Payback On Solar Panels?
    • Solar Resources
      • Interactive Solar Calculator
      • Federal Solar Tax Credit
      • Best Solar Panels For Most Homes
      • Tesla Solar Roof Review
      • Cheapest Solar Panels
    • Companies Compared
      • SunPower vs Tesla Solar
      • SunRun vs Tesla Solar
      • SunRun vs SunPower
      • SunPower vs Momentum Solar
      • SunPower vs ADT Solar

The best of EcoWatch right in your inbox. Sign up for our email newsletter!

    • About EcoWatch
    • Contact EcoWatch
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Learn About Solar Energy
    Facebook 558k Twitter 222k Instagram 52k
    EcoWatch
    • About EcoWatch
    • Contact EcoWatch
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Learn About Solar Energy
    Facebook 558k Twitter 222k Instagram 52k
    Home Animals

    Millions of Fish Dead in Australia River Following Low Oxygen Levels, High Temperatures

    By: Paige Bennett
    Published: March 20, 2023
    Edited by Chris McDermott
    Facebook icon Twitter icon Pinterest icon Email icon
    Dead fish cover part of the Darling River in Australia
    Dead fish cover part of the Darling River at Menindee, New South Wales, Australia. Graeme McCrabb / ABC News Australia
    Why you can trust us

    Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

    Facebook icon Twitter icon Pinterest icon Email icon

    In Menindee, New South Wales, millions of dead fish have been found in the Darling River. Local authorities and scientists say the die-off event is likely due to high temperatures and low oxygen levels as water from recent floods recedes.

    The dead fish are primarily bony herring, or bony bream, and also include murray cod, carp, golden perch and silver perch.

    “These fish deaths are related to low oxygen levels in the water (hypoxia) as flood waters recede,” the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries posted on Facebook. “Significant volumes of fish including Carp and Bony Herring, nutrients and organic matter from the floodplain are being concentrated back into the river channel.”

    More From EcoWatch
    • The Best Solar Panels for Hot Climates
    • What Is a Sun Number?
    • Sustainable Home Improvements You Can Make

    According to the Department of Primary Industries, the area has experienced widespread flooding. As the flood waters recede, oxygen in the water depletes. The situation is worsened by a local heat wave, which causes fish to require more oxygen, but the warmer water holds less oxygen.

    The department noted that bony herring population tends to ‘boom’ during floods and often then sees significant decrease as flood waters recede, especially as this species is more vulnerable to low oxygen levels and high temperatures. Similar incidents happened in 2018 and 2019, Reuters reported, where thousands of fish died from extreme temperature changes and poor water quality.

    The region has been dealing with high temperatures and flooding, and residents are now grappling with the sight and smell of dead fish in the local river.

    “We’ve just sort of started to clean up, and then this has happened, and that’s sort of you’re walking around in a dried-up mess and then you’re smelling this putrid smell. It’s a terrible smell and horrible to see all those dead fish,” said local resident Jan Dening, as reported by NBC News.

    Locals are also concerned about potential health impacts of the dead fish in the river.

    “The stink was terrible. I nearly had to put a mask on,” local nature photographer Geoff Looney told NBC News. “I was worried about my own health. That water right in the top comes down to our pumping station for the town. People north of Menindee say there’s cod and perch floating down the river everywhere.”

    The Department of Primary Industries said that multiple agencies were working to respond to the fish deaths, and locals were urged to call 1800-043-536 to report any relevant observations.

    Subscribe to get exclusive updates in our daily newsletter!

      By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and to receive electronic communications from EcoWatch Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content.

      Paige Bennett

      Based in Los Angeles, Paige is a writer who is passionate about sustainability. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Ohio University and holds a certificate in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. She also specialized in sustainable agriculture while pursuing her undergraduate degree.
      Facebook icon Twitter icon Pinterest icon Email icon

      Read More

      Experts Identify Emerging Threats to Bees, From Wars to Microplastics and Light Pollution
      United Nations World Bee Day is May 20, and a
      By Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
      PBS Documentary Shows Triumph and Tragedy in Fight for Water Rights
      Water For Life began its journey when filmmaker Will Parrinello
      By Craig Thompson
      River Testing by Anglers in England and Wales Reveals Phosphate ‘Crisis’
      Testing of English and Welsh rivers by volunteers from angling
      By Cristen Hemingway Jaynes

      Subscribe to get exclusive updates in our daily newsletter!

        By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and to receive electronic communications from EcoWatch Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content.

        Latest Articles

        • Experts Identify Emerging Threats to Bees, From Wars to Microplastics and Light Pollution
          by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
          May 20, 2025
        • In ‘Major Win,’ Trump Administration Ordered to Restore $176 Million in Community and Environmental Grant Funding
          by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
          May 20, 2025
        • More Than 1 in 4 Cars Sold Globally in 2025 Expected to Be EVs: IEA Report
          by Paige Bennett
          May 20, 2025
        • PBS Documentary Shows Triumph and Tragedy in Fight for Water Rights
          by Craig Thompson
          May 20, 2025
        • River Testing by Anglers in England and Wales Reveals Phosphate ‘Crisis’
          by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
          May 20, 2025
        • Trump’s New Section of Border Wall Will Threaten Rare Wildlife in Arizona’s San Rafael Valley
          by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
          May 19, 2025
        • Illegal Bird Killings Continue Despite Prevention Pledges: Report
          by Paige Bennett
          May 19, 2025
        • World’s Biggest Polluters Least Impacted by Conflict and Environmental Damage: Study
          by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
          May 19, 2025
        EcoWatch

        The best of EcoWatch right in your inbox. Sign up for our email newsletter!

          • Climate Climate
          • Animals Animals
          • Health + Wellness Health + Wellness
          • Insights + Opinion Insights + Opinion
          • Adventure Adventure
          • Oceans Oceans
          • Business Business
          • Solar Solar
          • About EcoWatch
          • Contact EcoWatch
          • EcoWatch Reviews
          • Terms of Use
          • Privacy Policy
          • Learn About Solar Energy
          • Learn About Deregulated Energy
          • EcoWatch UK
          Follow Us
          Facebook 558k
          Twitter 222k
          Instagram 52k
          Subscribe Subscribe

          Experts for a healthier planet and life.

          Mentioned by:
          Learn more
          • Privacy Policy
          • Terms of Use
          • Cookie Preferences
          • Do Not Sell My Information
          © 2025 EcoWatch. All Rights Reserved.

          Advertiser Disclosure

          Our editorial team is committed to creating independent and objective content focused on helping our readers make informed decisions. To help support these efforts we receive compensation from companies that advertise with us.

          The compensation we receive from these companies may impact how and where products appear on this site. This compensation does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides within our content. We do not include all companies, products or offers that may be available.