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“People north of Menindee say there’s cod and perch floating down the river everywhere.”

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said, “Devastated to see the images coming out of Menindee today. It’s tragic to see mass death of fish, known as fish kills, at this scale for the second time in four years.

“I understand the fish kills have been caused by flooding combined with high temperatures which has created low oxygen black water.

“We need to better understand the causes of these kills to better prevent them. That’s why we are investing in the best, updated science.

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“It’s also another reason why it’s so important to deliver the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in full. Delivering the plan will help support and rebuild our precious native fish populations.

“We know that climate change is exacerbating extreme weather. Delivering the Plan will support our rivers through the worst of our floods and droughts.”

Mass kills have been reported on the Darling-Baaka River in recent weeks.

Tens of thousands of fish were found at the same spot in late February, while there have been several reports of dead fish downstream towards Pooncarie, near the borders of South Australia and Victoria, since February 20.

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Enormous fish kills occurred on the river at Menindee during severe drought conditions in late 2018 and early 2019, with locals estimating millions of deaths.

The department’s investigation involving scientists and Murray-Darling Basin experts found those events were also caused by a lack of dissolved oxygen, amid very low or non-existent water flows, high temperatures and blue-green algal blooms.

Looney said there should be an inquiry into water management and fish deaths.

“It’s getting ridiculous,” he said.