mrmoshe Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 Guys, there has been a new report on dioxin levels, especially in pelagics. Channel 9 News tonight will have a report on the new findings at 6pm in Sydney. Worth a look. Cheers, Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bombora Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 Hiya The daily tele has the report as well. Will be in tomorrow's edition with more detail than tv can provide . Very interesting, have just seen the stats. More than pelagics too, also includes squid. I also hear there will be some good news for rec fishos too.Sorry can't say any more as competitors don't have the report but will probably scratch something together after nine airs its stuff. cheers Bombie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmoshe Posted March 16, 2006 Author Share Posted March 16, 2006 (edited) Guys, there has been a new report on dioxin levels, especially in pelagics. Channel 9 News tonight will have a report on the new findings at 6pm in Sydney. Worth a look. Cheers, Pete. Some more info on the above subject: Below is the Press Release from the Minister for Primary Industry, Ian MacDonald. Media Release March 16 2006 EARLY TEST RESULTS SHOW DIOXIN LEVELS LOWER IN "RECREATIONAL" FISH SPECIES Dioxin levels in pelagic species of fish in Sydney Harbour appear to be well below the elevated levels found in Bream and Prawns, Primary Industry Minister Ian MacDonald said today. Minister MacDonald said a small number of preliminary test samples indicate that species of fish like Yellowtail and Trumpeter Whiting have much lower levels of dioxin. "Early results from tests on a range of species in Port Jackson, east of the Bridge, include Yellowtail, Sand Whiting, Luderick and Trumpeter Whiting, have levels below 6 picograms per gram recommended by our expert panel", the Minister said. "For example, all Trumpeter Whiting caught at Rose Bay was below 4.4 pg/g, while all Yellowtail at Balmoral was below 1.97 pg/g." "I must stress these are early samples only - about 10% of the current testing program- but the signs are hopeful". "The dioxin problem in the Harbour comes from sediment in areas like Homebush bay, a legacy of 100 years of industrial pollution by companies like Union Carbide". "As a result, the dioxin levels are high in travelling "bottom feeders" like Bream, Prawns and Squid". "For comparison, Bream caught at Balmoral in the December round of tests averaged 14.7 pg/g, Bream caught at Clifton Gardens averaged 25.5 pg/g". "Bream caught further west, at Homebush Bay (which has been closed to commercial fishing since 1989) had an average reading of 95.6 "These readings are well above the panel recommendations of 6 pg/g- and that is why I closed the Harbour to commercial fishing in January". "I would point out, however, that one of the species of Trevally tested at Chowder Bay in the latest round of tests had a dioxin reading of 9.3 pg/g so there is need for some caution". Minister MacDonald said the new test results would make no difference in the commercial fishing ban. "This is great news for recreational fishermen, unfortunately, however, it is the "bottom feeders" that make up the vast bulk of the commercial catch so it makes no difference to the ban on commercial fishing in the Harbour", he said. "The highest results in the latest round of tests to be over acceptable dioxin level was Squid- with another "bottom feeder" and another commercial catch". Minister MacDonald said commercial fishers had already been offered a $5 million buyout package for their industry - which had an annual value totalling just $217,000 a year. Fish caught in Sydney Harbour made up less than 2% of the Sydney Fish Market catch before the full ban was put in place on January 24. "The Governmant has been more than fair with this package - and if, in the future, the Harbour is re-opened to commercial fishing, these fishermen will get the first option". Minister MacDonald said. "The latest small sample of test results support previous comments that Harbour water is the cleanest it has been in decades. "Those species caught commercially - namely Bream, Squid and Prawns all have returned unacceptably high levels of dioxin. It is mostly the "recreational species" that are returning lower levels in Port Jackson - and that's from a small sample of early test results", he said. "The latest results will be analysed by the expert panel - we expect more test results in the coming weeks". "I will review the dietary advice provided to recreational fishers once the final results are in". The State Government is currently conducting remediation works to clean up the former Union Carbide site at Homebush Bay. Sydney Harbour was closed to commercial Prawn fishing on December 3 and commercial fishing on January 24 after expert tests revealed high levels of dioxin in Bream and Prawns. Areas of the Harbour West of the Bridge including Homebush Bay have been closed to commercial fishing for more than a decade. ENDS: Edited March 16, 2006 by MallacootaPete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 95.6 in homebush bay bream?! Holy Bananas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmoshe Posted March 17, 2006 Author Share Posted March 17, 2006 (edited) 95.6 in homebush bay bream?! Holy Bananas Yep, 95.6 is the downside. The upside is they are easy to spot as they glow in the dark!! Edited March 17, 2006 by MallacootaPete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beach Fisho Posted March 20, 2006 Share Posted March 20, 2006 Great reports, thanks for the info. We know which fish to give to the inlaws!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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