This afternoon, the cause of mass fish deaths in the Central region was announced.

This afternoon, April 27, after a meeting with relevant agencies, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will hold a press conference to announce the cause of the recent mass fish deaths in the provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue.

Dead fish wash up on beaches in the Central region. (Photo: Dang Duc)

According to information obtained by Dan Tri reporters, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha will directly chair a meeting with ministries and branches to hear a report on the entire incident of mass fish deaths that has caused public panic recently.

The results from the sampling process, sample analysis, assessment reports, and proposed solutions will also be presented at this meeting.

It is expected that after the meeting with ministries, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will hold a press conference late this afternoon to inform the results of determining the cause of fish deaths in the Central provinces.

As Dan Tri reported earlier, on the afternoon of April 23 in Ha Tinh, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment had a working session with leaders of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien - Hue provinces to investigate the cause of the fish deaths.

According to initial statistical reports, the phenomenon of unusual deaths of aquatic products in the North Central provinces has caused very heavy damage.

After the unusual fish deaths occurred, authorities collected 42 fish samples and analyzed 34 water samples at different levels to verify and find out the cause.

Initial results show that all provinces have a common opinion that the dead fish are usually bottom-dwelling fish, and the fish die very quickly. Authorities have initially determined that the fish deaths were not caused by disease, nor by water pollution. So far, the number of dead fish has decreased.

“The analyzed environmental parameters such as temperature, pH, salinity, etc. are all within the allowable limits,” is the general conclusion of the functional sectors of the provinces where fish died.

However, the initial comments of the authorities did not satisfy public expectations.

By April 25, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had directed and assigned the People's Committees of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien - Hue provinces to review and compile statistics on households that have suffered damage in aquaculture and seafood exploitation, the extent of damage, ensuring completeness and accuracy; propose support measures for fishermen, especially policy households, poor and disadvantaged households, and cases of major and severe damage, to help people stabilize their lives soon. People must not go hungry due to having to stop fishing.

The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Health, and the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology to proactively coordinate and support the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to urgently clarify the cause of the unusual death of seafood in localities and immediately report to the Prime Minister measures to strictly handle violations.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the People's Committees of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien - Hue provinces as well as localities nationwide must proactively review investment projects in various fields, especially heavy industry, regarding environmental protection, especially the marine environment.

According to Dan Tri