Chemical use may have led to fish deformities

BRISBANE - A Queensland government taskforce says it's possible chemical sprays were behind deformed, two-headed fish larvae at a Sunshine Coast hatchery.

The taskforce, which includes government agencies and independent experts, has been testing the area around the Noosa River Sunland Freshwater Fish Hatchery on the Sunshine Coast, where dead, deformed and abnormal fish larvae have alarmed locals.

The locals have linked the deaths and deformities to five recent cancer cases in people from the area, blaming chemicals from nearby macadamia nut plantations.

Primary industries minister Tim Mulherin says no definitive cause of the deformities of larvae with two heads can be found.

"This is a complex investigation with no simple answers," Mulherin said. "Some within the taskforce believe the report does not go far enough in identifying chemicals as the cause of the problems, but overall the consensus is that it is not possible to provide a definitive opinion on the cause at this stage."

The neighbouring macadamia farm has been found to be using chemicals legally and operating within industry practices.

The next phase of the investigation will see an interim report delivered in September, with a final report due in February next year.

- AAP