Mass fish deaths reported in Vũng Tàu City

August 31, 2016 - 18:06

Fish have died en mass in farming cages in southern province of Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu, causing much worries to farmers as they might lose all the invested money.

The dead fish were first found floating in the water in farming cages in Vũng Tàu City’s Long Sơn Commune last Friday. -- Photo nld.com.vn
Viet Nam News

BÀ RỊA -VŨNG TÀU — Fish have died en mass in farming cages in the southern province of Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu.

The dead fish were first found floating in the water in farming cages in Vũng Tàu City’s Long Sơn Commune last Friday, said Trịnh Văn Năm, a local resident.

Năm said he lost 2 tonnes of silver pomfret fish and cobia fish in just three days.

Farmer Huỳnh Văn Sa said he was raising 13,000 silver pomfret fish which all died. His losses were estimated at VNĐ600 million (US$26,900).

Huỳnh Văn Thêm, deputy head of Bà Rịa -Vũng Tàu Province’s Veterinary Bureau, said it has co-ordinated with relevant agencies to investigate and took samples to determine the cause of the deaths.

Initial investigations found that low oxygen content in water could be to blame, local experts said.

Too much rain water together with pollution caused a decline of dissolved oxygen, they said.

Local authorities estimated that the incident has caused damage of more than VNĐ3.5 billion (US$157,000) to breeders.

The provincial Agriculture and Rural Development asked the People’s Committees to work with relevant agencies to identify the cause of the deaths and help mitigate the consequences. — VNS

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