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Mass Fish Deaths in Lam River Prompt Provincial Investigation Request
๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ Vietnam /Crime & Justice

Mass Fish Deaths in Lam River Prompt Provincial Investigation Request

From Tuแป•i Trแบป · (7m ago) Vietnamese Critical tone

Translated from Vietnamese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Hundreds of fish in cages in the Lam River in Anh Son commune, Nghe An province, Vietnam, have died en masse, with preliminary estimates of nearly 7.7 tons of fish lost.
  • Local authorities have requested provincial intervention to determine the cause, with potential factors including sudden weather changes or water pollution from domestic and industrial waste.
  • Residents are collecting dead fish and natural seafood washed ashore, while authorities advise harvesting remaining fish and removing dead ones to prevent further environmental impact.

The sudden and widespread death of farmed fish in the Lam River has caused significant distress and financial loss for numerous households in Anh Son commune, Nghe An province. This incident, affecting various species of fish across 13 cages and totaling an estimated 7.7 tons, has left local fish farmers in a state of uncertainty and concern.

While the exact cause remains undetermined, preliminary assessments by local authorities point to possible factors such as abrupt weather shifts or contamination of the water source, potentially stemming from domestic or industrial discharge. This situation is particularly alarming as fish farming in this section of the Lam River has historically been stable, making this mass die-off an unusual and worrying development.

To ensure people's peace of mind and livelihoods, the People's Committee of Anh Son commune proposes that the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Provincial Fisheries Sub-department send expert officials to determine the specific cause and implement support policies for affected aquaculture farmers.

โ€” Nguyแป…n Trแบงn ChฦฐฦกngDeputy Chairman of the People's Committee of Anh Son commune, Nghแป‡ An, in a report to provincial authorities requesting an investigation into the fish kill.

The community, as reported by Tuแป•i Trแบป Online, is grappling with the immediate aftermath, with some residents resorting to collecting the dead fish and any natural seafood washed ashore, likely due to the perceived freshness of the catch. This underscores the economic impact and the immediate need for solutions.

In response, the Anh Son Commune People's Committee has formally petitioned the Nghแป‡ An Provincial People's Committee and relevant departments to investigate the cause and provide support for the affected farmers. This appeal highlights the reliance of these communities on aquaculture and the significant disruption caused by such events. The local government's proactive stance in seeking external expertise and aid is crucial for restoring confidence and livelihoods in the region. The incident also brings to light past environmental concerns related to a nearby sugar factory, which had been previously flagged for pollution issues in 2022, adding another layer of complexity to the investigation.

Fish and shrimp that are still fresh are being collected, so we take them home.

โ€” a resident of Anh Son communeExplaining why they were collecting dead fish and natural seafood washed ashore along the Lam River.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tuแป•i Trแบป in Vietnamese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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