Hu Jielan Channel NewsAsia 9 Feb 14;
SINGAPORE: More than 20 fish farms along the East Johor Straits have reported incidents of fishes dying just before the start of the Lunar New Year.
This has caused an estimated loss of more than S$3 million.
According to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), this could be due to low levels of oxygen or a phenomenon known as the plankton bloom, which is caused by the hot weather and neap tide - which is when high tide is at its lowest level.
Plankton are microorganisms found in the seawater that can multiply quickly in a very short period of time.
Some of the farms claimed to have spotted about 200 to 300 dying fishes.
AVA said it had earlier advised coastal fish farms in the Straits of Johor to take precautions for the neap tide this weekend.
It has been working with the farmers to deal with the arising problem that could occur with neap tide since Friday to mitigate its impact.
AVA has collected samples from the affected farms for analysis to find out the cause of the deaths.
Meanwhile, AVA is assisting the farmers by advising them on how to mitigate the farm's losses while it continues to monitor the situation closely.
- CNA/xq
Chinese news report about dead fish from fish farms along the East Johor Straits.
