EMA probing giant fish kill

The other agencies involved are the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) and the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Since last Monday, scores of dead fish were reported to have washed up along beaches and along the coastline stretching from King’s Wharf, San Fernando, to La Brea, Vessigny Beach, Guapo, Chatham and Clifton Hill Beach, Point Fortin. EMA spokesperson, Alicia Charles, said water and fish samples had been taken from several beaches, as well as offshore, to determine the cause of the fish kill.

She said samples taken during the past week had proved inconclusive and both EMA and IMA field personnel had returned to the area to conduct further testing and gather additional samples. She said the test results should be known sometime today.

When Newsday visited Vessigny Beach yesterday, there were no signs of dead fish, but scores of beachgoers were happily cavorting in the dark brown water.

Lifeguard Colin Roberts said EMA inspectors had visited the beach to collect samples on Saturday morning.

He said local fishermen had reported seeing an “enormous” amount of dead fish drifting just offshore with only a few dead fish being washed up on the beach.

However, Roberts expressed concern that no public health advisory had been issued about venturing into the waters given the fish kill which had been observed since last Tuesday.

“The Ministry (of Health) should at least issue a public advisory outlining the precautions that members of the public need to take or whether unusual levels of lead or whatever has been found in the water,” he said.