deformed fish

THE owner of a Queensland hatchery where double-headed fish embryos were found is taking past and present owners of a neighbouring macadamia farm to court, alleging spray drift from their operations damaged her fish and her business.




"I want them to admit that they were doing it and stop it," said Gwen Gilson, owner of Sunland Fish Hatchery near the Noosa River. "We want clear air and clean water. That's essential."



The problems became widely known in January last year when Ms Gilson confirmed that in addition to massively deformed embryos, surviving fish showed abnormal spinning behaviour and other physical deformities.



The Australian then revealed the existence of a possible cancer cluster among residents on Boreen Point, near the macadamia farm.



It is understood there may be more cases brought by residents, alleging health problems from suspected cancers to gastrointestinal and bladder complaints, skin disorders and headaches.


According to documents sighted by The Australian, Ms Gilson is seeking damages and a declaration that between 2005 and the present the defendants negligently "permitted dangerous fungicide and pesticide chemicals" to escape from the plantation.


The defendants could not be contacted for comment.



Ms Gilson claimed that problems began at her native fish hatchery in September 2004 after a macadamia farmer allegedly sprayed nut trees with fungicide and pesticides.



All two million sea mullet fry allegedly died when Ms Gilson transferred them into an open tank at the hatchery. She will also claim that native bass stocks died when fresh water was provided for them from the open tank.



From then on, Ms Gilson alleges that stocks of Mary River cod, yellow belly, silver perch and mullet also died or showed deformities and abnormalities after spraying. Fish bred and raised away from the plantation in controlled trials were normal.



Jolyon Burnett, chief executive of industry group the Australian Macadamia Society, last year said the matter was serious. "Anything that affects the health of our members, their families and the community in which they operate is of significant concern."



A taskforce of government, industry and independent scientists, established by the Queensland government, is expected to submit a final report next month.