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Ref:686/03 |
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australia
- Apr 17, 2003 |
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Kingfish foul play alleged |
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By Stan Gorton
Thursday, 17 April 2003
THE
operators of the Clean Seas fish farming operation off
Arno Bay now suspect foul play and not sharks may have
resulted in the escape of 12,000 kingfish.
General manager at the Stehr Group's hatchery
Stephen Bedford Clark said a report into the incident
had been filed with police after new evidence came to
light about two unidentified vessels trespassing in
the area shortly before the escape was detected.
He said there had been a small shark and a
hole, which was repaired, at the bottom of a 40-metre
pontoon at Poverty Bay on Friday, April 4 but all
14,000 of the 2.5-kilogram fish were still in the
cage.
Then over the weekend, the two suspicious
vessels were seen in two different areas around the
farms and by Sunday night the operators discovered
almost all the fish had escaped, even though later
they determined there was no hole in the net.
Mr Clark said the first speculation was that
sharks had again caused the problem but by Wednesday
the operators concluded there was no hole in the net,
and police were contacted.
"We don't know what happened but it could have
been as simple as dropping the side of the net down,"
Mr Clark said.
A recent review of the paperwork revealed there
was just less than 14,000 fish in the cage initially,
slightly less than the 15,000 initially reported.
There were also 2000 fish that remained in the
pontoon, meaning the actual number of escapees was
closer to 12,000.
The fish farm workers were able to catch 5000
of the fish in the days immediately following the
escape, but only an additional 400 fish had been
recaptured in recent day due to cold weather.
Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA)
Aquaculture department manager of policy Michael
Deering said anyone remaining in a lease area after
being asked to leave faces a $2500 fine and up to six
months in jail and there were additional penalties for
interferring with stock. |
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