An on-the-spot observation conducted by the Regional Fisheries Officer on dead fish that washed ashore on the beaches of the Upper Corentyne Coast has revealed that the gills were heavily coated with sling mud and slime and this condition may have resulted in oxygen deprivation to the fish, resulting in death.
In the meantime, samples of the dead fish were collected last Sunday and sent to the University of Guyana Bio Diversity Centre for testing to determine the cause of death of the fish. It is estimated that the results of these tests will take several weeks, according to a statement from the Fisheries Department in the Ministry of Agriculture.
The department in making this disclosure said that last Friday it received reports that numerous dead fish were being washed ashore on the Corentyne Coast.
Investigations by the department revealed that sightings of the dead fish have been occurring since January 9 and were initially suspected to be trash fish. The situation, however, reached a peak last Friday when a significant amount of dead fish was observed on the beaches in the area. The statement noted that between 90-95% of the dead fish were the Cuirass species.
Meanwhile, consultations with Surinamese Fisheries Department officials have revealed that similar occurrences of dead fish have been observed in the vicinity of Nickerie and Coronie during the same period.
This observance of dead fish is said to be an annual occurrence by local fisher folk and this was also confirmed by the Surinamese Fisheries Authorities.
The occurrence was, however, noticeably worse this year.
The statement suggested that one possible reason for the occurrence may be the turbidity of the water in the area, caused by excessive rainfall in the general region resulting in excessive cloudiness of the water due to suspended particles from the rivers which flow into the ocean and reduced dissolved oxygen levels.
Other causative factors could be high fresh water discharge. The high discharge of fresh water from the rivers may have disrupted the salinity content of the water in the area which could adversely affect the fish.
