Victorian Fisheries Officers received reports of several species of fish including mullet and bream found dead in the Glenelg River at Nelson on the weekend.

Officers notified the Environment Protection Authority immediately and are working with the EPA to investigate and monitor the situation.

A Victorian Fisheries Authority spokesperson said monitoring of the dissolved oxygen levels in the water showed the event was likely to have occurred naturally, due to inflows of fresh water.

“Fish deaths can occur after heavy rain events due to the deoxygenation of water which comes downstream,” the spokesperson said.

“Our Fisheries Duty Officer received calls about midday on Sunday about reported fish deaths near the boat ramp at Nelson, on the Glenelg River.

“Officers attended to find several hundred fish of multiple species had washed up.

“Anyone who comes across a similar fish death event is encouraged to call the 13FISH reporting line- make the call and make the difference.”