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Fresh groper corpse may help solve mystery deaths

News release | 23 June, 2008

A fresh Queensland groper corpse at Trinity Beach has yielded well-preserved tissue samples that are expected to help solve the mystery of a recent spate of deaths.

Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries principal scientist Richard Knuckey and fisheries biologist Adam Reynolds conducted a necropsy on the 1.83m fish at Taylors Point near Trinity Beach soon after it was reported on Sunday morning, June 22.

The dead groper, weighing about 120kg, is the 25th reported between Cairns and Port Douglas since March. Of these sightings, 19 have been confirmed.

"The samples taken on Sunday are in good condition and should provide us with more meaningful results," an optimistic Dr Knuckey said.

"Samples of all tissues from the fish were taken for histology (tissue study), bacteriology, virology and residues such as pesticides and heavy metals.

"Testing will take place at the veterinary laboratories in Townsville."

Dr Knuckey said it was thanks to early reporting from two members of the public that the task force was able to attend the corpse in good time.

The only other corpse to provide useful information to date showed that septicaemia (blood-poisoning) was present.

"We need to find out why these gropers have been susceptible to these bacterial infections," he said.

Dr Knuckey thanked the public for its support and asked they report any more dead gropers as quickly as possible to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.

Thats interesting, wonder what it is causing this to happen. Will be interested in finding out about the results. Do you have a link to a page at all Matt?