Murray-Darling authority warns of 'dire' summer of mass fish deaths and blue-green algae

Alert comes as Indigenous group issues plea for states to stick with basin plan or risk marginalising vulnerable communities and endangering river health

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority has warned of more mass fish deaths and blue-green algae events throughout the Murray-Darling River system as the peak group representing First Nations issued a plea for the states to stick with the plan.

The MDBA issued a communique on Friday saying the summer outlook from the Bureau of Meteorology was "dire", and there was a greater than average chance of drier, warmer conditions and an elevated fire danger across the basin.