Scientists who study striped bass say anglers on the East Coast are right to be concerned, and they say years of overfishing are just part of the problem.
Water levels at the Menindee Lakes in western New South Wales have fallen to their lowest point in five years, prompting the state government to impose upstream water use restrictions as experts warn of potential mass fish deaths over summer.
Combined volume at the Menindee Lakes fell below 480 gigalitres earlier this month, the first time since 2021.