Cause Of Dead Fish In Sungai Bera Due To Lack Of Oxygen - DOF

PEKAN, Oct 1 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Fisheries Department (DOF) has confirmed that the recent fish deaths in Sungai Bera were caused by low dissolved oxygen and high ammonia level.

Its director-general, Datuk Adnan Hussain, said the results were obtained after water sample analysis was conducted at the Kuantan Fisheries Biosecurity Laboratory.

"We at the Fisheries Department are still investigating the cause of this pollution, whether it was caused by industrial activities or deliberate acts," he told reporters after the Pahang Inland Fishermen's Aid Distribution Ceremony in Kampung Padang Rumbia here today.

The ceremony, organised by Yayasan AmanahRaya in collaboration with the DOF, was officiated by the Sultan of Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, accompanied by the Tengku Ampuan of Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.

Also present were Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and the state government leaders.

Adnan said the investigation also found that no biotoxin contamination or harmful bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella were detected in the river water and that the fish in the area were still safe to eat.

"Fish in the affected area are still safe to eat because the dissolved oxygen and ammonia problems only occur in the water, not in the fish. As long as the fish are not badly damaged, they can still be eaten," he said.

He also advised the public not to throw any contaminated materials into the river to avoid the death of native fish or caged fish.

"This incident is very sad because it affects the fishing industry and the river ecosystem. We do not want the same incident to happen again in the future," he said.

He also did not rule out the possibility that the contamination may have originated from the Serting River which flows into Sungai Bera, but stressed that the matter still needed solid evidence.

Meanwhile, Pahang Department of Environment (DOE) director Zakaria Ahmad @ Mohd informed that his investigation had begun on Sept 23 and was still ongoing.

"River water sampling has been conducted and we are still awaiting the results of the chemical analysis for further action," he said when contacted today.

-- BERNAMA