Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has received a report of about 20 dead black bream and one estuary perch near Seacombe boat ramp in McLennans Straight in the Gippsland Lakes.
Fish have been collected should analysis be required and water sampling is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 23 February. The results of the water samples will be made available to the public as soon as they are ready, which is likely to be Thursday 25 February.
Initial indications are that the cause of the fish deaths is likely to be the decomposition of a red algal bloom occuring in the lake system, which reduces dissolved oxygen levels.
The fish deaths are not a result of the recent pseudo-nitzschia algal bloom; the Department of Health and Human Services has cancelled the precautionary advice issued on 7 February not to eat mussels, oysters and pipis collected from the Gippsland Lakes due to an algal bloom.
People should not, however, consume fish found dead in the lakes.