Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown says he was shocked to see the bloody lesions on fish taken from waters off Gladstone near the current massive dredging operation.

“The sick and ulcerated fish are still being caught in the region adjacent to dredging, as are sick crab with holes in their shells,” Senator Brown said in Gladstone.

“But there is no diagnosis and no moratorium until the cause is nailed.

“I will join Greens Senator for Queensland, Larissa Waters, in pursuing the federal minister for the environment, Tony Burke, who is missing in action on this issue,” Senator Brown said.

Senator Brown is in Queensland to support Greens candidates in the state election campaign.