Post date: Jan 18, 2011 11:49:19 AM
Environmentalists say they are concerned about the possible impact of the latest floods in Australia on places like Brisbane's Moreton Bay where sludge and toxic waste may pose a threat to marine life.
MORETON BAY, AUSTRALIA (JANUARY 18, 2011) ABC AUSTRALIA - As Queenland capital Brisbane cleans up from the devastating floods, Australian environmentalists are starting to worry about the environmental impact on Moreton Bay and its marine life.
Tonnes of topsoil and waste, some of it toxic, has washed into the bay is threatening the habitat of dugongs and six species of turtles who eat the sea grass which is now covered with silt."Dugongs eat about 30 kilos of sea grass a day. That's equivalent to about 60 lettuces, but when that food source goes we could see starvation for the dugongs," said Darren Kindleysides, of the Australian Marine Conservation Society.
The area along the east coast of Australia is the southernmost habitat for the sea mammals.
Aerial footage shows the water in the area a muddy brown with debris washed down from Brisbane floating throughout Moreton Bay.
Judy Lynne from a recreational fishing club said floods in 1974 had a devastating impact on the catch and was worried the recent floods could also have a bad affect.
"The fishing was great, the crabbing was great, the prawns were great and that stayed for along time, so it cleaned a lot of the water system out," said Judy Lynne.
To help with the clean up, the Australian Navy has sent in a mine sweeper with sophisticated sonar equipment to locate debris and help clear shipping channels.