Tag: Perth

An escalating marine heatwave has been identified as the likely cause of more than 30,000 fish washing up dead in the Pilbara earlier this month.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has said the incident at Gnoorea Beach near Dampier but it was “likely that prolonged thermal stress” due to these conditions was associated with the deaths.

Executive Director, Fisheries and Agriculture Resource Management Nathan Harrison said marine heatwaves could last from days to months and have wide-reaching impacts on habitats, plankton, fish and fisheries.

And a warmer ocean off WA during 2024 preconditioned a high marine heatwave risk scenario for the summer months.

The nearshore waters along the Pilbara coast were currently around 31 degrees, 2-3 degrees above normal for this time of year.

It follows WAtoday reporting just before Christmas on coral bleaching at two reefs near Broome amid spiking ocean temperatures.

The Conservation Council of WA has linked WA’s fossil fuel expansion and increasing carbon emissions to the climate crisis, particularly the recent approval of Woodside’s North West Shelf gas plant to operate until 2070, and the company’s application to drill for gas near the Scott Reef, a haven for endangered marine life, as part of the same operation.

They have called for the WA government to phase out fossil fuels and pass laws to limit pollution.

Environs Kimberley Executive Director Martin Pritchard said 70-90 per cent of corals were predicted to die worldwide even under conservative predicted climate trajectories, that is, warming of 1.5C.

He said the organisation was concerned about the state government’s lack of “any action or response” to the recent marine heatwave, coral bleaching and fish kill.

“We need the state Environment Minister Reece Whitby to take action here so we actually understand the damage to Kimberley marine life so far,” he said.

“Then he can tell us how the WA government will make sure it doesn’t get worse.”

The minister was contacted for comment.

WA experienced one of the worst marine heatwaves on record in 2010/11, which caused major losses of seagrass and kelp, and impacts on fisheries such as Roe’s Abalone and Gascoyne saucer scallops.

Power outages in Perth and WA

Perth and various parts of Western Australia have been experiencing widespread power outages in recent days, leaving thousands of residents without electricity. The outages have been attributed to a combination of factors, including extreme weather conditions and equipment failures.

Permai’s journey to Monarto

The critically endangered Sumatran orangutan, Permai, has begun her journey from Perth Zoo to Monarto Safari Park in South Australia. The move is part of a breeding program aimed at increasing the population of Sumatran orangutans, which are facing extinction in the wild.

State of the States report

The latest State of the States report has been released, ranking the economic performance of Australia’s states and territories. Western Australia has emerged as the top-performing state, driven by strong mining and resources sectors, while other states have faced challenges due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Craig Norwood extradited over child sex abuse charges

Former teacher Craig Norwood has been extradited from Western Australia to New South Wales to face child sex abuse charges. Norwood is accused of sexually assaulting multiple students while working at a school in Sydney in the 1990s.

Pilbara fish kill amid marine heatwave

A mass fish kill has been reported in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, with thousands of dead fish washing up on the shores. The incident has been linked to a marine heatwave that has caused water temperatures to rise to dangerous levels, impacting marine life in the area.

Nationals’ Esperance-Kalgoorlie pipeline plan

The Nationals party in Western Australia has proposed a plan to build a pipeline connecting the towns of Esperance and Kalgoorlie, aimed at improving water security in the region. The project is expected to boost agricultural and mining industries in the area.

Dutton on nuclear energy

Federal Minister for Defence Peter Dutton has expressed support for nuclear energy as a potential solution to Australia’s energy needs. Dutton has called for a national debate on the issue, highlighting the potential benefits of nuclear power in reducing carbon emissions and ensuring energy security.

Tags:

1. Power outages Perth WA
2. Permai’s journey Monarto
3. State of the States report
4. Craig Norwood child sex abuse charges
5. Pilbara fish kill marine heatwave
6. Nationals Esperance Kalgoorlie pipeline plan
7. Dutton nuclear energy

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