Mr. Nguyen Duc Binh - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has just sent a report to the Provincial People's Committee on the initial assessment of the cause of fish deaths in the Tra Khuc riverbed, the section belonging to Truong Quang Trong ward.
According to Mr. Binh, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has directed specialized agencies directly under it (Sub-Department of Fisheries - Islands, Sub-Department of Environmental Protection) to inspect the actual situation and initially determine the cause of fish deaths in the Tra Khuc river area.
Through actual inspection of the scene on September 8, it was recorded that dead fish were found in the area on the north bank of the Tra Khuc River, the section between Tra Khuc 2 bridge and the Tra Khuc river dam, the number of dead fish was concentrated in low-lying holes, sand trenches of the alluvial ground along the river, most of the dead fish were tilapia of various sizes.
According to initial assessments, the cause of fish deaths is that fish are trapped in low holes and sand trenches when the river water level drops, causing local water shortage, while in nearby water areas there are live fish, no signs of fish disease or fish deaths are recorded in these water areas.
To ensure objective grounds, the Sub-Department of Environmental Protection has taken water samples in the vicinity of the dead fish area and sent them to specialized agencies for testing, it is expected that on September 15, the water sample test results will be available, and the Department will report the results to the Provincial People's Committee.
After receiving information, the Department coordinated with the Provincial Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board and Truong Quang Trong Ward People's Committee to grasp information, proceed to collect and handle dead fish carcasses in areas where dead fish carcasses have been discovered to avoid affecting the surrounding environment and surrounding residential areas.
As Lao Dong Newspaper has reported, from September 6 to September 8, the mass fish deaths on the Tra Khuc River, the section from Tra Khuc 2 bridge to the upslope dam downstream of the Tra Khuc River, Truong Quang Trong ward (Quang Ngai), have caused stench, affecting the environment in residential areas living along both banks of the river.
The mass fish deaths not only cause odors and environmental pollution but also threaten the aquatic ecosystem and affect the lives of people living along the river.
Previously, on July 7, the downstream Tra Khuc river dam was operated to store water and test synchronously the construction equipment. After operation, the water level of the Tra Khuc river rose, creating a landscape on both banks of the river after many years of drought. On September 5, the unit operating the downstream Tra Khuc river dam opened the valves to gradually lower the upstream water level, bringing the flow back to its natural state.
After the dam started operating and discharging water, the river water level receded rapidly, causing fish to not have time to move to deep water areas and get stranded, which may be one of the reasons leading to mass fish deaths.
Previously, on September 4, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the province released hundreds of kg of fish seeds into the Tra Khuc River to regenerate aquatic resources after the riverbed was waterlogged.
