The EPA's dietary recommendations currently advise catch and release for Australian salmon from Botany Bay and suggest limiting consumption to reduce exposure.

Tower Beach, frequently visited by families and fishermen, has been under scrutiny for PFAS contamination since 2018, raising significant health concerns.

The contamination in Botany Bay is linked to the historical use of firefighting foams at nearby Botany Industrial Park and Sydney Airport.

In response to the contamination issues, the federal government has defended its actions, claiming to have allocated over $130 million to manage the risks appropriately.

The Bayside City Council has indicated that inquiries about the beach's safety should be directed to the EPA or Sydney Airport, reflecting a lack of confidence in the beach's safety.

The EPA has confirmed that this testing is crucial to verify the current validity of precautionary dietary advice, emphasizing the ongoing need for community protection.

This testing marks the first examination of the area since 2018, when dietary advice was issued due to detected PFAS levels in local fish species.

Warning signs prohibiting swimming and fishing were installed at Tower Beach in 2023, but many families remain unaware of the risks due to the signs being partially obscured.

Despite the warnings, many families, including avid fishermen, continue to use the beach, often learning about the contamination risks only through media reports.

Residents have voiced frustration over the lack of transparency regarding the beach's safety and the health risks posed, particularly for children.

The EPA has criticized the federal government for its handling of the PFAS investigation, as the airport is on Commonwealth land and regulated by the federal Department of Infrastructure.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has mandated new testing at Tower Beach in Botany Bay, near Sydney Airport, due to concerns over water contamination with cancer-causing PFAS, also known as 'forever chemicals.'