Puzzle over dead eels up Mordialloc creek
Wes Hosking
30Jun08
UNEXPLAINED deaths of at least 15 eels have sparked calls for residents to be on the lookout for pollution in a Mordialloc Creek tributary.
Mordialloc resident Scott Watson said he discovered two eels dead near a footbridge over a concrete-lined drain between Doug Denyer and Kevin Hayes reserves earlier this month.
More of the dead creatures later turned up near Crown Ave and McDonald St.
"It's very disappointing to see something like this occur," Mr Watson said.
"My two boys enjoy looking for eels in the drain every time we go there."
He said residential pollution was most likely to blame.
Environment Protection Authority investigators visited the tributary but found no evidence of pollution.
Spokeswoman Ruth Ward said the dead eels could not be tested for pollutants because they were badly decomposed.
She urged residents to alert the authority if they saw pollution in Mordialloc waterways.
"We encourage people as soon as they see anything to give us a bell," Ms Ward said.
"That gives us the ability to trace it back to its source."
Melbourne Museum manager of live exhibits Luke Simpkin said the short fin variety of eel was most likely to call Mordialloc Creek home.
Mr Simpkin said the creatures usually lived in waterways for up to 15 years before swimming to the Coral Sea off Vanuatu, where they mated and died.
"To find them dead in this stream is not good," he said.
"Certainly not in the winter."
To report pollution: 9695 2777.
