Several media reports have been made on pollution of the water in Cockburn Sound, where in late 2015 an estimated 2,100 fish died[3] as a result of algal blooms through poor local water quality.
Reports from 2010 suggest the monitoring of pollutants was not adequate, using degradation of sea-grass since 2005 as a key indicator.[4]
Media coverage in December 2016 indicates the leaking of firefighting chemicals from the local defence base at Garden Island could be a factor,[5] however the report was only made available in September 2016. Prior official reports indicate the water quality was improving. However, there is doubt towards the scope of the report, as it does not include factors such as thermal stress from increased water temperature and oxygen stress as a result of climate change[citation needed] and localised desalination.
