Dead fish wash up on popular Middleton Beach

Beachgoers who travelled to the Fleurieu Peninsula have been met with a stinky surprise. Find out what’s causing people to pinch their noses as they pass.

Thousands of juvenile carp and other marine life washed up on Middleton Beach from the Murray River flood waters entering the ocean. Picture Emma Brasier

Fish flopping around on a popular Fleurieu Peninsula beach have caused a small-scale disaster for beachgoers.

Popular tourist spot Middleton Beach has left surfers pinching their noses as thousands of dead carp have been washing ashore.

The stranded freshwater European carp have been washing up since Thursday on beaches including Goolwa and Middleton.

The fish have been caught in unfamiliar waters, according to Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) biosecurity officer Giverny Rodgers.

“Normally carp are really good at dealing with different environments but they don’t cope well with salinity,” she said.

As it turns out, salt water is not a carp’s kettle of fish.

Holiday-makers Sean Daugherty, 53 and daughter Nico, 10, from Melbourne said they knew something was fishy when they saw an empty beach.

“There are a lot less people here,” Mr Daugherty, who regularly stays in Port Elliot, said.

“I wonder if it’s turned people off.”

Mr Daugherty said the presence of the fish, apart from being on the nose, is felt when in the water.

“You can feel the fish hit your legs and when you stand on them they squish,” he said.

“It smells funny.”

His daughter was not pleased by the presence of the smelly schools situated on the sand.

“It’s really gross.”

Thousands of juvenile carp and other marine life washed up on Middleton Beach from the Murray River flood waters entering the ocean. Picture Emma Brasier

When visiting their holiday home, Elizabeth Hill, 43 and daughter Lucy, 12, were left like a pair of stunned mullets when they saw the fish.

“Today I noticed a lot of new ones,” Lucy said.

Ms Hill said the dead fish come in waves.

“Some days there’s not much, other days there’s heaps.”

Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven said the event may continue for weeks, leaving beachgoers fish out of water.

“It is expected that these carcasses will be washed out to sea over the coming days or weeks as part of natural processes,” Ms Scriven said.

“There is no need for the dead fish to be removed or cleaned up immediately as carcasses provide food for other organisms.”

And there may be plenty more fish in the sea yet to wash ashore.

“It’s difficult to say how much longer it will last as it’s a once in 70 years event,” Ms Rodgers said.

If there is too much fish build-up in a certain area PIRSA would step in to turn the tides.

“PIRSA would lead disposal of fish carcasses and we’d engage contractors for the clean-up.”