PIRSA’s probe into ‘dead fish’ at SARDI’s West Beach Insititute must be independent, MPs warn

A probe in how hundreds of thousands of fish died at a government facility should not be a case of a department investigating itself, MPs say.

Sand Dredging off the coast of West Beach, which is being blamed for the unprecedented mortality. Picture: Department for Environment and Water

An independent investigation must be launched into claims an official sea dredging operation killed hundreds of thousands of fish at a taxpayer-funded Adelaide scientific laboratory, MPs warn.

Authorities are investigating why more than 200,000 snapper fingerlings, almost three quarters of the state’s research oyster splat and scores of baby barramundi mysteriously died last year.

The state government's flagship South Australian Research and Development Institute and an adjacent beachside fish nursery at West Beach suffered the “catastrophic” losses.

But SA parliament’s upper house has increased pressure on ministers after MPs backed opposition calls for an independent inquiry into suspicions the Environment Department’s $20.7m mechanical beach dredging trial is to blame.

The PIRSA inquiry has yet to find evidence proving dredging was behind the marine life deaths. Picture: Department for Environment and Water

Primary Industries and Regions investigations, alongside environment agency officials and the industry watchdog, have failed to identify a source for the unprecedented “mortality incident”.

Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven told MPs that SARDI “is very keen to understand what may have contributed to the deaths”.

The ongoing PIRSA inquiry, which the Environment Protection Authority is also assisting after granting a dredging licence, is investigating “human activities” such as site maintenance and sand replenishment.

Dredging occurred near the SARDI institute in October 2024. Picture: Supplied

The institute is a world leading marine biology research hub. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

The investigation, which officials said scientific experts were leading, is also examining fish health, environmental factors such as weather and ocean conditions as well as coastal water quality.

Parliament last month heard claims a water inlet pipe was “significantly damaged” around the time.

Opposition spokeswoman Dr Nicola Centofanti said the Legislative Council backed her independence call in the “interests of transparency and to ensure South Australians have confidence in the process”.

“This cannot be government departments investigating themselves, as we see currently – it doesn’t pass the pub test,” she said.

Liberal leader Nicola Centofanti said the Legislative Council vote supported her calls for an independent inquiry. Picture: Supplied

Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven said scientists, who were experts in their field, were leading the inquiry. Picture Mark Brake

Greens Upper House MP Tammy Franks endorsed a “need for transparency and independence” to ensure “science, rather than sectional interests, guides our decision-making”.

One Nation MP Sarah Game added: “The fact that these deaths remain unexplained should concern all South Australians”.

Ms Scriven on Sunday said losses were being “investigated by scientists who are experts in their field”.

“The investigation is ongoing, and given the complexity of the data being analysed, scientists are following a careful and structured approach,” she said.

Ms Scriven said it was “common for larval fish to have high mortality in aquaculture due to their fragility, weak immune systems and sensitivity to water quality, nutrition and stress”.