Two ministries and four provinces hold meetings on the fish kill incident: The cause remains unclear.
The meeting between the two ministries (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) and four central provinces this afternoon has yet to reach a conclusion regarding the mass fish deaths that have caused devastating losses to fishermen for more than half a month.
The fish kill phenomenon first appeared in Ky Anh town, Ha Tinh province. Subsequently, from mid-April onwards, dead fish washed ashore in three provinces: Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Hue.
According to incomplete statistics, hundreds of tons of seafood have died, and the amount of wild marine fish in many provinces has yet to be quantified.
| ||
Excluding disease outbreaks, is a foreign vessel suspected?
According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Van Tam, initial inspection results ruled out dangerous disease outbreaks, concluding that the cause was water quality. Analysis of samples showed no abnormalities, except for some localized cases in Hue.
Regarding the crucial cause, which is the potential for toxicity, the authorities have taken samples and are continuing testing to reach a conclusion, Mr. Tam said.
Meanwhile, Tran Le Nguyen Hung, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Thua Thien Hue province, said that among the suspected causes of the fish deaths, Hue is considering foreign vessels as a potential culprit.
On April 18th, Thua Thien - Hue received news that a foreign ship had requested permission to dock to take on fresh water. When the ship arrived, there were three people on board. The purchasing vessel discovered no fishing nets on shore. Prior to this, Quang Binh had seized five foreign ships...
"So we need to review the ships operating during this time," he questioned, asking why the outbreak didn't start in Nghe An but in Ha Tinh, why it spread to Lang Co but not Da Nang?
Mr. Hung observed that the spread was counter-clockwise, meaning it was spreading further and further away. As a result, the number of dead fish was increasing in variety.
Mr. Nguyen Viet Nghia, Deputy Director of the Fisheries Research Institute, believes that the cause of environmental toxicity is significant and requires a review to determine the source of the toxic substances. The river flows along the shore southward from Ha Tinh to Thua Thien - Hue. Assuming there is a point of toxic substance dispersion, the dispersal would be very complex and widespread.
We must prove that seawater is safe.
While the cause remains undetermined, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Van Tam raised the issue of continuing production and advised people on how to continue exploiting and cultivating resources.
"What if extremists discover a new cause for people's livelihoods? Finding toxins is not simple; it can't be found immediately. How can we stabilize people's morale, avoid causing panic, and encourage them to continue consuming safe products? People can't wait for us," he questioned.
Representatives from Thua Thien Hue province argued that, first and foremost, it must be proven that the seawater is safe and suitable for fish to live in. Regular and frequent monitoring is necessary to determine if the water environment is suitable for fish to survive.
According to Mr. Dang Ngoc Son, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ha Tinh province, squid in Vung Ang are currently living normally, meaning the water environment is no longer a cause for concern, as squid are very sensitive to environmental conditions.
Representatives from Quang Binh province stated that production cannot be stopped. The province will direct a temporary halt to inshore fishing, while offshore fishing must continue. The focus will be on cleaning up the coastal environment, collecting dead fish and debris to create a clean environment.
Strictly prohibit the use of dead fish.
Concluding the meeting, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development stated that the phenomenon of rapid and widespread fish deaths, affecting both farmed and wild fish, especially at the seabed, is unusual.
Because this was the first time such a widespread problem had arisen, there was initial confusion, but authorities quickly took action. However, the exact cause has yet to be determined.
"We request that provinces thoroughly implement directives, handle the dead fish, prohibit their use, continue sampling, restore production, temporarily suspend fish farming and some fishing activities. Reassure the public to ensure people feel secure in consuming the products."
"The central government will conduct regular monitoring in localities and then advise the provinces to direct people to exploit aquatic resources. This will not disrupt the fishing and business activities of the people," Mr. Tam said.
According to Vietnamnet.vn