I was shocked when I opened the contents of the link I provide:

It the latest news on the annihilation of the environment in the Gladstone Region in Qld.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-09/gladstone-harbour-in-pictures-and-quotes/3650296

Is this sort of thing the beginning of the end ?.

No, it's not the beginning of the end - it's nature doing its thing.

The run-off due to the huge rains over the last year will have carried all sorts of minerals into the ocean. Clearance/farming may have contributed by allowing more scouring of soils. The dredging will churn stuff up, but that will be a very local event, compared with the regional effect.

How to test? You'd look at the questions:
1. How widespread is the effect on fish?
2. Is it worse in estuaries where material in run-off tends to hang around rather than being washed out to sea, to settle further out on the continental shelf?
3. Is the suite of minerals similar to the area being dredged or from further afield?
4. Are there historic examples following exceptional rains, before dredging/development?

The study should cover those aspects and others; it will be interesting to see the results.

PS In the Murray-Darling there is a natural phenomena called black water, which kills lots of fish after heavy rain. There's an Aboriginal account that fish fled ahead of flood waters (and were easy to trap) because they didn't like the taste of the water.

Black water in the murray darling is rotting vegitation and gum leaves washed back into the river after floods, which causes a lack of oxygen, this kills fish, and crayfish take to land to find more suitable water. Only flushing fixes the problem. I have never seen fish with visable wounds caused by any sort of water. Or would that be caused after death.

Yes thinker 2 this is not the end.
But it is a concern ,we see in the post between us the truth.
For a very long time farm run off and yes storm water, has seen such , and massive deaths of marine life.
All over Australia.
And we should do something about it.
Storm water is the streets rubbish disposal unit.
We still dump sewage in it some times untreated.
Farmers, some still, use a bit too much just in case, and do not try to control run off, its just a little bit they tell them selves.
It is said 60% of the jobs children starting school now will do, have not yet been invented.
One should be keeping creeks rivers and streams clean, and stopping pollution getting away.
Another? future conservationists must take control, clean up after, the black stupidity of some, who by their actions make the word green or conservation dirty in most minds.

579 red rot, one of many names for such open wounds on living fish as in this case.
Happens from the very south to the very north of the east coast.
Regularly.
Even more in lakes and rivers bays and harbors.
I have seen hundreds of ton of dead or dieing fish too with this mark.
Floods do indeed kill fish.

floods are a great time for miners [drillers/even farmers
to dump bad polution waters..into the flood waters

by accident or design
dont understimate the chemical affect

govt knows that will kill the reef..;kill industry..
yet persists on gifting our wealth to multinationals..
[and hang the real cost][or the public debt]

I would be more concerned about the 3 people eaten by white pointers in 3 weeks around Perth. Time for fish and chips I think.

I must tell you all of the time that my family was poisoned by pesticides. The first symptom was, that we all broke out in multiple boils. My son being the youngest and smallest at the time (thereby receiving the largest proportionate dose), almost died from a boil in his septum.

The medical profession sought to treat our boils, whilst more boils appeared and the situation worsened. In desperation I asked a natropath friend for advice. His response was that boils were evidence of blood poisoning and advised us to seek out the source of the poison. When we did, we discovered a white waxy layer applied underneath our rented home. I proved to be termite poison, massively over applied. We immediately moved in defiance of our lease. We didn't get our bond back and boils went away. And my son thankfully recovered.

The fish story in Gladstone is only one side, the other is the subject of the link I'm providing now.

http://www.theage.com.au/environment/fishermen-breaking-out-in-boils-20111004-1l6x0.html

My above personal example involves an area of pesticide contamination of 25 squares. In an area the size Gladstone Harbour and beyond, for contact with the water to produce boils amongst the commercial fisherman in the Gladstone area of a similar gravity and identical to my own family's experience when poisoned by pesticides, confirms that this is not a natural event.

Anyone proposing that precedents in nature exist for the type of event we are seeing of the scale of the Gladstone problem, should go join the Ostrich Party with the climate change skeptics. Maybe after in a flood near the Fukishima Nuclear plant may the fish look like Gladstones.

Meanwhile the authorities are doing much at all, hoping the problem is taken away somewhere else by the currents, but I predict that only way the commercial fisherman of the Gladstone area will see a cessation of the symptoms above, will be to divorce themselves from their livelihood and the waters around Gladstone.

The wildlife however, doesn't have much choice in the matter.

T2
The Four Corners report was fairly even-handed in it's reporting on this issue. One thing is for certain, there will be a lot of finger pointing, diversions and spin before the truth about contamination in Gladstone Harbour is revealed.

Some interesting information on legislative loopholes around water testing.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/dredge-loophole-endangers-harbour-water/story-e6freoof-1226188226637

There are plans for more port developments along the coast of QLD from Townsville up with increased ship activity risking marine wildlife and the GBR. One sometimes has to question human nature in regard to chasing dollars to the detriment of the environment. Will it take a catastrophic man-made disaster before all Australians come together to ensure the environment is habitable for future generations. It shouldn't just be labelled a Green issue, it is always a people issue.

Sorry, thinker 2 but I don't think that pesticides are the problem here.

The type of colouration and lesions seen on the fish in your link are more reminiscent of infection by microorganisms, such as potentially Pfiesteria, although any potential causal agent has not been reported yet, to my knowledge.

Pesticides tend not to develop such symptoms, even in acute cases. I'm not a head-in-the-sand denialist, believe me, but I don't think your'e on the right wicket here.

The case is definitely concerning, and there may be an environmental problem in Gladstone, with changes in pH of the water affecting the balance of infectious microorganism activity in the water, but that is all a hypothesis until investigation proves otherwise. In any case, I don't think it is indicative of environmental collapse, and Belly might have the right of it.

But furthermore, I do have a special interest in pesticides generally, and I would like to hear more about this 'termite poison' that formed a 'white waxy layer' under the house. Which pesticide did it prove to be in the end?

One more link if I may because I'm trying to make the point that the dredging (unless it is stirring up poison of the toxicity of pesticides) is probably not the entire cause of the Gladstone disaster. Both sides get a voice on this ABC local video.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-04/commercial-fishermen-in-gladstone-harbour-call-for/3636740

cheers T2

Bugsy after all these years, I can say, that I was hardly concerned about what type of termite application it was, except to say that the landlord confirmed that it was termite spray to us at the property when we enquired as to the nature of the substance.

When I say a white waxy substance it was tangibly thick and had the appearance of a waxy substance. I never was game to touch it except to poke it with a stick. It did not break up into bits but pushed around like a soft foamy waxy substance if you know what I mean. It looked like it was applied then allowed to dry, then applied again, allowed to dry again etc and so on.

I admit Bugsy that my observation that it was massively over applied, was my own logical assessment, based on the assumption that it shouldn't look like that, or be that thick, and knowing the compulsive obsessive nature of the landlord re snakes,spiders, bugs, ticks, ants, fleas, termites and weeds etc ad infinitum.

To paint the picture of the landlord, he appeared most weekends with a pesticide spray of some sort in one hand and a 22 to shoot reptiles, in the other. The property was a treeless 10 acres of hillside, the house a new brick dwelling.

Co-incidentally both his parents had cancer and were also advocates of the use of pesticides in the home. At 42 he had learnt this behaviour, and still living with his parents also had had several serious and unexplained health issues. Frankly Bugsy the man, and his mother and father, were off their dial.

My focus at that time was my family's health and my critical son in hospital.

I think you make the case for other possibilities well Bugsy, but the point I am trying to make, is that the toxicity of what ever the problem may be in Gladstone on such a massive scale as Gladstone Harbour and adjacent ocean and reef, maybe indicative of something like pesticide poisoning or worse and is therefore of considerable concern.

I think we should start by testing for cumulative things, things worse, or at least as bad as heavy metal contaminants, things like Dioxin levels.

Actually thinker 2, I very much doubt that the waxy layer you observed has anything to do with pesticides. Pesticides are not applied in any sort of waxy formulation, as that would defeat the purpose of what they need to achieve. The symptoms you obsetrved are not consitent with any termite pesticide that I know of. Acute and chronic exposures tend to manifest quite differently to what you described.

I would hazard to guess that what you saw was more likely to be biological in origin, perhaps spore forming moulds or fungus. Many households have these sorts of 'toxic building syndromes', especially under floors and in ceiling spaces, and they quite often affect respiratory tracts and often also have a 'chronic fatigue' sort of syndrome associated.

As for the Gladstone harbour situation, I doubt that pesticides/heavy metals are unlikely to be the causal agents there either, the fish symptoms and the fishermens symptoms appear to be more microbiological/infectious types. Considering the dilution factor of the harbour, I doubt that even a direct spray of pesticide into the harbour would have such an effect.

I would be guessing that the current investigators have come to similar conclusions and are first looking at changes in nutrient content and pH (probably stirred up by dredging) affecting the types of infectious microbes in the water. It wouldn't be the first time this type of thing has happened around the world.

Some events,, far far too many, take place and are white washed or hidden.
Here is just one.
30 years ago on the mid North coast of NSW a tragic event took place on the Pacific Highway.
A TRUCK AND CAR COLLIDED.
Truck had in its cargo 12 tons of chemicals.
About the same of dried foods, and tinned fruit.
Two containers , in such a load?
Containing radio active ISOTOPES!
Powder from the burst freight, that poison , covered every thing, by standers, well not, but remain unnamed, and not road workers eat sugar coated nuts, coated too with the dust.
Car driver died,local hospital refused to take his body.
TV filmed both Isotope containers opened by police, and Isotopes being ? handled.
A lot, 3 different crews, of then DMR workers spent the day working to clean that site, in heavy rain.
TWO had doctors tell them they had? RADIO ACTIVE POISONING.
All, about 20 had blood tests, and never got told the results.
6 years after obeying orders, burying that load, poisons too, on the road side.
A very large fish kill took place in the adjoining lake.
DMR/RTA on Dick Smith offering $100.000 to dig it up and remove it? said it was not there never had been.
I worked all day ,in rain , my arms burned and still today do.
Another fish kill took place.
2 police officers both in 20,s never worked again.
Research this today and you will find it is not there, never took place..
The 40 year old dead trees, still there, that is how old they had been before death still stand.

fisher folk reported a simular thing some years ago
it turned out that sewrage outflow from a pig farm...made normanaly harmless bacteria turn into flesh eating

the main noted symptom was the fishermen returned home with leisions and a loss of reasoning abilities..[they couldnt find their way home]

the name might be wisteria..

[but heck with these water desal plants.].
we no doudt will in time al catch that disease..
it might just be the plan man

or get mad cow from our yanki mac burgers
sems that one mad cow can end up contaminating huge quantities of ';burgers'..but we will never know..nor in the end have any mind that cares

so im getting into the couldnt care less mode early
not going nuts about how/when/who..

just give me the poisen and get on wit ya life
thank god my web acces expires in a few weeeks..then i wont even have to read about it

by accident or design
dont understimate the chemical affect
under one god,
well said. Just think of 5000 tourists every day swimming on the same locations on the GBR.
Then think of about 50-100 ml of sunscreen lotion per tourist being washed off into the water. That's a fair bit of poison going into the reef.

I am a bit surprised we did not get a little more response to the subject.
It may very well be true, bacteria maybe the problem.
And also not true, that it is the beginning of the end.
However if each of us, contributed just one, true happening such as mine , we would understand , we must never take this country for granted.

579, yes only flushing fixes black water, but its usually caused these days not by natural floods but by idiot greenies keen to have an "environmental flow", without thinking what the end result will be. Down south they tend to flood forest land ("better give the redgums a drink"), but fail to follow it up with sufficient additional water. Now if they just waited until spring (because lets face it historically there would be few other times in the year when something like this happened naturally), then followed up with a flush, they might even get the result (good river health) that they are looking for. But I'm afraid they are lucky to have a brain to share between them, and bugger-all practical knowledge.

That's what green is, green behind the ears. Funny how they want to save the planet yet they're the ones destroying it. what they need to comprehend is that the planet earth is ever evolving, good or bad for our liking. The greenies think they can somehow stop this evolution of which mankind is a part no matter what some educated idiots think.

Oh yeah, now it's somehow all the 'greenies' fault.

Good one.

Bugsy yes I agree with the inference in your post.

We must however confront,no way around it.
Australian country folk will never understand, never forgive,the true idiots who are seen as greens.
A few house wives, in brand new homes, on land not long ago farm land, demand the gravel quarry/tannery, that has employed people for a Century, be closed down and win.
Conservation is tainted with the same brush as country folk ,me included,think of these fools.
Why is it? why do those chaining them selves to trees tractors coal conveyors,so very often look like the last bath they had was a year ago.
Why are they trying to live my youth wearing hair we had and trying to look like rejects from a hippy camp.
After a whale stranding, a convoy of helpers pulled up at a road crew soundly blasting them!
Because an eagle eyed fool saw one of them? throw something in the bush!
The straw of grass he had picked and chewed on.
Conservation should be mainstream, these fools should be hidden from sight.
We just have to see real people showing real concern in charge of such debates.

We are in for, very unsettled and more ferocious storms. Hurricane force winds never before seen in certain areas. Floods will run alongside drought, Damage will be caused. Oceans continue to absorb heat, and raise temperature, more ice melt, pacific islands inundated. The out look is not good, the time is ripe for fortifying and consolidating. Unless we get organized and get the balance of nature back, we can only look forward to more and more adverse conditions.

579, you actually do believe some of this garbage you write, don't you?

For gods sake do some research yourself, & find out that most of what you write is Greenpeace cr4p, all spin smoke & mirrors. It's only put out for journalists, academics & politicians. Real people aren't supposed to believe it.

Oh dear, don't tell me you're one of those!

I apologise for posting this link.

This is one of the most graphic of examples of the mans effect on his environment that you will ever witness.

I think you brownies need a dead set wake up.

http://www.ted.com/talks/capt_charles_moore_on_the_seas_of_plastic.html

I seriously doubt that you will be able to watch much of it, but I think you should.

thinker 2 thanks.
579, content,hasbeen is a grumpy old fella but ok if given a chance.
You, for your effort, in reporting the truth, got a load of grumpiness dumped on you.

Global ice melt will contribute 32 cm sea level rise by 2050, and releasing toxins. The biggest year yet for ice melt in the arctic. Ice melt will now move to the antarctic in increasing amounts. NASA says that is calculated at todays sea temperatures.

This link has a lot to do with the issues we may be facing today. About the pre-dinosaur Permian Mass Extinction event in our planets Pre-history.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDbz2dpebhQ

Even if your not a student of history,its a good watch.

We're not dinosaurs.
You know, I think some people are just addicted to what's called "Disaster Porn", the problem seems to be most serious in the over 50 age group, maybe they all retired too early and now spend too much time on the net. My old Dad has the same problem, he's got his subscriptions to New Internationalist and Green Left Weekly, his laptop and a coffee shop full of wrinkly friends who sigh and twiddle with their beards and say "What's to be done!'.
Every bloody day some old sad sack says to me something like, "Ooo, I'd hate to be raising kids these days, I worry about their future"...give me strength.

Being alive a little longer than you have, may not be as disadvantageous as you might like to imagine Jay of Melbourne. And of course "you'll be the last too know", in my case. (lol)

Only living longer than I have so far, will allow you the perspective I have already. This perspective is (even today), socially useful, and relevant to the time we exist on this earth individually.

Your references to "Disaster Porn addiction and summing up with the phrase "give me strength", ("an expression my grandfather used"), shows that even you can glean something(no matter how insignificant) from your elders, Jay of Melbourne.

Well indeed,
See I'm raising my kids the way I was brought up and I live better than the baby boomers did, that's the way it goes, each generation lives better than the last.
The Boomers started out their lives on the tail end of the most destructive conflict in history, lived with rationing and shortages well into their childhood, diseases like polio and TB were still a problem etc etc yet they raised us properly and continued the work of building up a great country where we also had the chance to improve ourselves.
And yet....
They constantly sell us and their Grandchildren short if they think that somehow progress will stop and we'll be overwhelmed by petty issues like "climate change".
I know for certain that my kids and grandkids will grow up to be better off than I am now, that's the way my people work we constantly go forward, we're always on an upward trajectory.
Why do you believe that future generations of people with the same genetic makeup and intellectual capacity as us and who will have at their disposal technologies you and I can't even imagine will somehow drop the ball and die out?
The problem with this "disaster porn" is that a fixed future relies on a fixed past, the whole catastrophist angle is built around the world staying exactly as it is.
"We can't continue on like this or we'll destroy the planet!" NO!...We won't continue on like this because we're always progressing, we won't die out due to our failure to adapt to a slow, creeping climate change,it's unthinkable.
Our grandchildren will still be masters of their environment.

I don't agree Jay, at all. It "is" about progress, not the maintenance of the status quo.

Only experience brings knowledge of the past, and this changes your perspective of "what it is", that constitutes progress.

I know full well, that lives have improved and would never sell the capacity of my grandchildren short. Nor the contribution too that reality from those whom have gone before them.

In fact, it's obvious to me, that my grandchildren have capacity beyond my own. This does represent a progress of sorts JOM, but with childhood comes naivety through inexperience.

The Media today, have achieved power beyond their wildest dreams, having a "dis-proportionate influence upon the young", with less regard to the welfare of them, than to the masters they serve.

All you can really do is hope to inform the upcoming generations of things that you have experienced, and therefore "too you", are the known truths of your own lifetime.

I don't think denying the pace of climate change (through humankind) however, is helpful to my grandchildren's future Jay of Melbourne, even if you think they would be able to survive the effects of man made global climate change, because they are naturally (through progress), more able or worthy than older people when it comes too decision making and the future.

In fact a contribution can be made by all. And technology unlike attitude, bears no acrimony toward any group, based solely upon their age group.

If we allow such attitudes as age prejudice, to develop into normality in our society, we may as well, kiss our civility goodbye.