Shocking footage of hundreds dead fish in Dover result of dry weather, EPA finds

Dry weather conditions are believed to be responsible for the mass death of hundreds of fish in Dover caught on video earlier this week. See the footage.

The state’s environmental authority has said dry weather conditions contributed to a mass fish death in the state’s south earlier this week, with the aftermath captured on video.

Strathblane resident Rebecca Hancock said Dover locals had raised the alarm with her before she filmed the shocking video at Dover Rivulet on earlier this week.

“I didn’t walk all the way up the rivulet, I was only near where the rivulet approaches the beach, but as far as they eye could see were dead or dying fish,” she said.

Dead fish in the Dover Rivulet, an hour's drive south of Hobart. Picture: Rebecca Hancock.

“Under the nearby bridge, there was just tonnes of dead fish in a swarm under there.”

Ms Hancock said many residents were concerned about the possibility of chemicals or toxins in the water, some even citing a recent fuel leak on the Huon Highway as a possible contaminate.

“The water looked really grey and milky and the whole rivulet just smelt awful,” she said.

“It was pretty horrible to see and very confronting to see the fish. It reminded me of scenes of the Murray-Darling Basin and their drought.”

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) confirmed that preliminary onsite water samples of Dover Rivulet showed “very low” levels of dissolved oxygen they believe arose from decreased waterflow during recent dry weather.

Dead fish in the Dover Rivulet, an hour's drive south of Hobart. Picture: Rebecca Hancock.

“Preliminary investigations indicated this was likely to be a naturally occurring incident arising from a decrease to waterflow in the Dover Rivulet,” a spokeswoman said.

“There was no evidence present at the time of the EPA observations to indicate the presence of oils or any other chemical pollutants.

“No further fish deaths have been reported at this time and the site has now been cleared by Council.”

The EPA has also submitted water samples to Analytical Services Tasmania for further analysis.