Gladstone region Mayor Gail Sellers, at Gladstone Marina, says the community needs to see results of all autopsies conducted this year on marine animals in Gladstone Harbour.
Gladstone region Mayor Gail Sellers, at Gladstone Marina, says the community needs to see results of all autopsies conducted this year on marine animals in Gladstone Harbour. David Sparkes

Call for marine animal autopsies

THE call for autopsy results on marine animals found in Gladstone Harbour has drawn support from all sides of the debate.

On Friday, Gladstone region Mayor Gail Sellers called on the State Government to make public all autopsy results of marine animals in the harbour.

She reiterated her position today.

A scientific committee has released statements saying damage to seagrass pastures is the cause of most deaths, but it has not yet provided specific accounts for each death.

Cr Sellers today said specific results were needed if community speculation was to be replaced with facts.

“This has dragged on,” she said.

“I get emails about it.

"I get people meeting me on the street who want to know.”

“So, let’s tell them.

"I don’t think we’re putting the blame on anybody, I think everybody just wants to know the answers.”

Minister for the Environment Vicky Darling told The Observer the committee was still finalising its investigation.

“The situation in Gladstone is particularly concerning which is why the former minister (Kate Jones) established a panel of marine scientists to look at the situation,” she said.

She said findings so far show seagrass damage from the floods was the main cause of marine wildlife deaths on the coast, but the committee was “determined to find out if there is any other reason for this spike in deaths, particularly in the Gladstone region”.

Ms Darling said the investigation and its findings would be open and transparent. 


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