Mass fish deaths reported in fresh water cages

A breeder and his dead fish. — VNS Photo Điền Quang

THỪA THIÊN- HUẾ — Fish breeding in floating cages in central Thừa Thiên-Huế Province’s river have died en mass, resulting in huge losses for breeders.

The fish deaths occurred earlier this week in Bồ River’s section running across the province’s Hương Toàn Commune in Hương Trà District. Breeders said the fish were almost ready to harvest; therefore, they were expected to incur significant losses for this breeding season.

Trần Kiêm Hiệu, a breeder, said there were some 50 dead fish in each of his cages.

“On average, fish weighed 1kg each and was ready for harvest. We face estimated loss of VNĐ1 million (US$85) per day,” he said.

Trần Đức Gắng, another breeder, said almost all his fish were dead and he could lose VNĐ100 million due to the incident.

Gắng explained that in summer, the river water level is lower and fish died due to the shortage of oxygen.

Gắng and others demanded the release of water from the Hương Điền power plant, which blocked water on the upper part of the Bồ River.

Nguyễn Xuân Ty, the district chairman, affirmed the case, saying local authorities and the Department of Fishery had checked the site. Ty said they were working with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to ask the plant to release water into the river.

Following the mass fish deaths caused by Formosa toxic spill in the part of the sea bordering Hà Tĩnh, Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị and Thừa Thiên-Huế provinces, breeding fresh water fish in floating cages has bloomed, including in the communes of Phong Điền, Quảng Điền and Hương Trà Districts.