Glencore's Mount Isa Mines Environmental sampling team has spent time on the water monitoring the health and integrity of local waterways and catchments, as well as monitor fish health and population size.
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As part of Mount Isa Mines' annual Receiving Environment Monitoring Program the Environment team survey the local ecosystems to assess potential impacts to the environment from mining activities, or natural changes such as seasonal variability or rainfall.
In the recent REMP sampling, the team checked fish health and assessed their numbers through electrofishing, which is a common and effective way to capture fish, without causing them harm.
Electrofishing uses either alternating current or direct current to alter the behaviour of fish or to stun them so they can be safely caught with a net and pulled into the boat. They are then measured and assessed for indicators of fish health before being returned to the water to swim off naturally.
Guidelines for REMP studies place strict regulations around the monitoring of the receiving environment, which includes routine inspections at prescribed reference and compliance sites to ensure there is appropriate data on how the environment is performing.
Glencore's Mount Isa Mines Environmental Advisor Andrew Koerber said the health of the receiving environment was evaluated by comparing the results of sampling events to those from previous years.
"Considerable focus is given to any notable change in the abundance, health and diversity of fish and macroinvertebrates, water quality and stream sediment," Mr Koerber said.
"Our sub-tropical weather patterns and the ephemeral nature of our waterways gives the Mount Isa region unique aquatic freshwater ecosystems.
"The fish in these waterways have adapted to these extreme conditions, and our fish survey affirms this."
"Some interesting finds in the sampling included a 1.2 metre barramundi at Lake Moondarra, archer fish, sooty grunters, barred grunters, spangled and glass perch, two species of sleepy cod, catfish and eel tailed catfish in some of the smaller creek systems.
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