The recent farm-raised fish deaths in the southern coastal province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau may be due to sudden changes in the maritime environment at a local river where those farms are located, results of a quick test show.

A large number of farm-raised fish along the Cha Va River, located in Long Son Commune in the coastal province died of mysterious causes earlier this week, sending farmers to go belly up.

According to initial statistics, nearly 92,000 fish of 17 households died, with the losses totaling nearly VND6.5 billion (US$291,460).

Farmers infuriated by the situation decided to pour their dead fish onto the section of National Highway 51 that passes Long Son Commune on Thursday morning as a form of opposition to what they believe is failed regulation of waste from local business, causing traffic delays for several hours.

Local authorities have rushed to look into the cause of the mass deaths of farm-raised fish, with a quick test on water samples taken at the farms performed shortly after angered farmers took their dead fish to the street.

According to the test results, the salinity in water suddenly declined by 3-5 per mille, while there was an increase in pH level in water at the time of incident comparing to normal proportion.

“But the cause of the mass fish death is still under investigation,” said Huynh Son Thai, deputy director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

According to initial assessment, recent downpours were behind the decrease in salinity in water, causing an environmental shock for fish.

The fish therefore became less interested in food, not to mention other sources of pollution along the river could lead to oxygen shortage in the waterway.

Some fish farmers have also taken water samples at their farms for tests on their own.

Nguyen Cong Bien, a local fish farmer, said that the test results showed an excessive chlorite present in the water at his farm.

In the meantime, a group of inspectors has examined several seafood processing businesses in Tan Hai Commune, Tan Thanh District on Friday daybreak, according to a source with knowledge of the matter.

Two of the facilities were found releasing wastewater directly to the environment.

Inspectors have collected water samples from these facilities for further analysis.

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