Mass Crayfish Deaths Lead to $8,250 Fine in Blue Mountains Tragedy

A person has been fined a hefty $8,250 for allegedly causing the catastrophic death of numerous crayfish in a stream near Hazelbrook Creek in the Blue Mountains last August. A tour guide found the 1,000 dead and dying giant spiny crayfish in the tributary of the creek near Horseshoe Falls last year. The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) issued two penalty notices after discovering nearly 40 litres of diluted pesticide spilled down a private property driveway, which flowed into the stormwater system, leading to the significant crayfish kill spanning 600 metres of the creek. Bifenthrin, a pesticide commonly used for pest control but highly toxic to crayfish, was found in the water, sediment, and crayfish samples taken from the creek....