IT seems the scourge of leatherjackets impacting on the Far South Coast has now extended as far south as Tasmania.
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ABC Radio National is just reporting that tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of a normally tropical species of leatherjacket are washing up at the Bay of Fires on the West Coast of Tasmania.
Local scientists are speculating the fish, many of which were alive when washed up, are dying because the warm 18-19 degree water that brought them down was now being met by much colder water being pushed up from the south.
Large gamefish being caught further south at Eaglehawk Neck including tuna and swordfish are also reportedly full of the leatherjackets.
The Narooma News has for months now been reporting on the destructive leatherjacket phenomenon off the Far South Coast of NSW.
Ocean species such as Chinaman leatherjacket are playing havoc with local commercial and recreational fishermen, and have even been filmed eating an octopus alive.
The other species encountered in huge numbers are the threadfin leatherjackets, which resemble the fish washing up in Tasmania.
