More dead fish have been reported in the Cai River in the southern province of Dong Nai, according to officials in the provinces Bien Hoa City.
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The fish had been raised in cages by local farmers on the river in the citys Tan Mai, Thong Nhat, An Binh and Hiep Hoa wards.
A total of 100 tonnes of fish, including those in cages and others living in the river, have died in the area since June 6.
The Dong Nai Department of Natural Resources and Environment said waste water discharged by the Bien Hoa Industrial Parks and other facilities along the riverbank had polluted the river.
Twenty out of 103 companies operating in the park are on a list of severe polluters in the area, which have discharged 6,500cu. m of untreated waste water each day.
In early June, the provinces Freshwater Resources Management Division worked with farmer associations in Thong Nhat Ward and found no evidence of disease in the dead fish.
The wards authority reported the death of 59 tonnes of fish from 56 fish farms on June 7, 8, 21, 22 and 23.
The department investigated, tested and concluded on June 21 that the dissolved oxygen (DO) content in the river had fallen and the water had been polluted, indicated by the amount of BOD5 (bio-oxygen demand), COD (chemical oxygen demand) and coliform bacteria.
At the time, the department told the environment police to more closely supervise discharge from Tan Mai Paper, Dong Nai Paper, Bien Hoa Sugar, Proconco Feed, Dona New Tower Foodstuff, Bien Hoa Packaging and Dong Nai Battery.
The freshwater resources management division of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development was expected to inspect the density of fish farms and offer technical advice, but fish have continued to die in the river since June 6.
(Source: VNS)
