EPA Community Update - Hunter River Fish Kill

Published on 24 March 2026

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The NSW Environment Protection Authority has shared an update this morning on the recent fish kill event in the Hunter River.

The EPA has confirmed that investigations are ongoing and being treated as a high priority.

EPA Community Update - 9 April 2026

  • The EPA has directed significant resources to the matter, with teams conducting water sampling and following up leads in the community since they were informed of the fish kill on Friday 20 March.
  • Water quality testing results from the Hunter River between Gowrie and Luskintyre showed pesticides were present in the water at the time of the recent fish kill.
  • The pesticide levels dropped rapidly and continue to decrease. There is no risk to human health, and all indications so far point to this being caused by a specific incident, not an ongoing situation.
  • EPA Officers are continuing to sample weekly to confirm that there are no ongoing impacts from the event.
  • Whilst these chemicals were detected in the water, it is not clear if they were the cause of the fish deaths. The EPA is awaiting formal fish autopsy reports to confirm cause of deaths.
  • There can be many reasons for large fish death events, including natural reasons, such as low dissolved oxygen or human causes such as pollution or pesticide spills. Investigations are continuing into all possibilities.
  • EPA Officers continue to observe live fish, including juvenile fish fry, swimming in the river. Given the sensitivity of aquatic organisms to changes in water quality parameters and pollutants, it is reassuring to see that fish are no longer dying. This is a strong indicator that the river is no longer being significantly affected by whatever caused the fish deaths.
  • Key water quality indicators are currently within the expected range for this catchment suggesting the waterway is maintaining a generally stable ecological condition. EPA Officers have tested the following in-field parameters:
  • pH – an indicator of acidic or alkaline conditions, which can affect aquatic life:
  • Conductivity – a measure of the water’s ability to conduct electricity, which indicates the presence of dissolved salts and other substances
  • Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) – the amount of dissolved material in the water, which can influence water quality and ecosystem health
  • Temperature – an important factor affecting aquatic organisms and overall water chemistry
  • Dissolved oxygen – the amount of oxygen available in the water, which is essential for fish and other aquatic life.
  • As a precaution, the EPA recommends anyone swimming in the river follows standard NSW Health advice not to drink any untreated water.
  • Downstream users may choose to resume water extraction. Depending on how the water is used, you may wish to consider undertaking independent testing to confirm suitability if you are concerned.
  • The EPA acknowledges the community’s concern about this issue and appreciate the help they have provided. They are following up information provided by the community. If anyone has information, send it to the Environment Line via info@epa.nsw.gov.au.

Options and advice for dealing with dead fish on private land

Leave them to decompose naturally

Where possible, carcasses should be left to decompose naturally if they are not accessible to children or other members of the household or public, pets, and livestock.

Place carcasses in the red bin

  • do not touch the carcasses with your bare hands.
  • wear a face mask, long-sleeved clothing, disposable gloves or gloves that can be disinfected, and shoes that can be cleaned
  • wash any clothing or clean and disinfect any equipment or materials that may have touched the fish
  • use tongs, shovels or other appropriate equipment to handle the carcasses
  • alternatively, lift the fish using an inverted bag. Once the carcass is grasped, the bag can be turned back on itself and tied off
  • the bag should then be placed in a second leak proof plastic bag, ensuring not to contaminate the outside of the outer bag
  • remove any gloves and place them in the second bag as well
  • tie the second bag closed and dispose of in normal household waste (‘red’ bin)
  • clean and disinfect any materials and equipment used
  • wash your hands with soap and hot water or an alcohol-based hand sanitiser before and after handling carcasses.

How to report

Fish deaths
If you observe further fish deaths, please contact the NSW Department of Primary Industries:
1800 043 536 (Fishers Watch – fastest option)
 water.enquiries@dpie.nsw.gov.au

Please include:

  • Location (GPS coordinates, landmarks, or river section)
  • Species and size (e.g. bony bream, carp)
  • Estimated numbers
  • Condition of fish
  • Water appearance and odour

Pollution incidents

EPA Environment Line: 131 555 (24/7)

What to report:

  • Water pollution (chemical spills, sewage, discolouration)
  • Air pollution (smoke, dust, odours)
  • Noise pollution (industrial or construction noise)
  • Illegal dumping or hazardous waste
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