The taskforce established to investigate two-headed fish larvae spawned at a Noosa fish hatchery has been denied access to crucial chemical spray records from three farms at the centre of contamination claims. Sunland Freshwater Fish Hatchery owner Gwen Gilson blames the use of the chemical fungicide carbendazim on macadamia plantations, flanking her Boreen Point property for the severe deformities in the fish larvae spawned over the last four years.
The discovery of two-headed bass larvae was compounded this week with the announcement a three-headed mullet fry, farmed from mullet taken from the Noosa River, had also been found at Sunland. Fifty per cent of embryos taken from a spawning event in June were found to have some form of cell abnormality.
Aquaculture veterinarian Matt Landos, who sits on the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) taskforce to investigate the problem, said an interim report into the mystery surrounding the deformed larvae spawned at Noosa showed it was "highly likely" chemical sprays were behind the bizarre case. However, he said key members of the taskforce, including those on a special scientific sub-committee, had not been given access to chemical spray records from nearby macadamia farms which would provide crucial information about the frequency and concentration of chemical applications to crops.
While the DPI&F chemical use inspectors have the right to seize chemical spray dockets from farmers, they are not entitled to distribute that information without the farmer's consent - even within the department. "The DPI has been given full access to the spray log and now have a full copy of the spray record in their possession now...but we (the task force) were only provided with a list of chemicals that were used by farmers."
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http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/mutant-fish-inquiry-hampered-20090715-dkxx.html
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