Watery grave: Villager Hafizie Jamaludin, 20, scooping up ‘ikan duri’ among the dead fish found along the Sungai Kerian riverbank.
NIBONG TEBAL: Thousands of dead fish were found afloat along the Sungai Kerian riverbank near the Ampang Jajar water gate.
Comprising mostly of ikan duri, ikan moyong and prawns, they were first found in small numbers belly up on Tuesday. However, by yesterday, they numbered in the thousands.
Authorities are investigating the cause but speculation is rife that there could be water pollution or that the fish died due to the current hot weather.
Ampang Jajar sluice gate caretaker Saiful Alehzaidin, 42, said a strong stench now came from the river.
“Villagers nearby are finding it unbearable,” he said.
“The fish are decaying and the smell is revolting. I have been working here for the past 18 years and this is first time I have seen so many dead fish and prawns,” he said yesterday.
Seri Ampangan Village Development and Security Committee chairman Ahmad Furanji Shariff said: “The situation has worsened as the sluice gates remain closed.
“We hope the authorities will help get rid of the dead fish as they are posing a health problem.”
Fishermen Supian Mohd said their catch would be affected if the problem was not solved soon.
“It is going to affect out income. If the problem is caused by irresponsible people, action must be taken against them,” he said.
Contractor hired to clear dead fish near Penang water gate
The Star 21 Mar 15;
GEORGE TOWN: A contractor has been tasked to clean up thousands of dead fish along the Sungai Kerian riverbank near the Ampang Jajar water gate.
Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) South Seberang Prai district engineer Zahid Zainal Abidin said the process would take a few days.
“The contractor started the work this morning,” he said when contacted by The Star yesterday
It was reported yesterday that the fish, comprising mostly of ikan duri, ikan moyong and prawns, were first found in small numbers belly up on Tuesday. However, by Thursday, they numbered in the thousands.
Zahid said the DID has ruled out claims by the public that the fish and prawns died due to changes in water salinity.
“Sungai Kerian flows across Perak and Penang. The water in the Perak side consists of fresh water while the Penang side contains a mixture of fresh and salt water.
“However, we have ruled out this reason as the cause for the deaths,” he said.
Zahid said the state’s Department of Environment took water samples and samples of the dead fish on Thursday for further testing and a report would be ready in a month’s time.
State Health Department director Datuk Dr Zailan Adnan said his department was also checking whether the fish could cause any side effect on humans if consumed.
“I can only comment further after the report is out,” she said.
Meanwhile, Penang Agriculture, Agro-based Industry, Rural Development and Health Committee chairman Dr Afif Bahardin said he had instructed the state Fisheries Department to investigate the river’s condition.