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The National Environment and
Planning Agency (NEPA) is now carrying out detailed investigations
into the fish kill reported in Black River, St Elizabeth on Tuesday,
September 1, 2009. Initial investigations point to the possible
contamination of the river by the wash-out of dunder applied to
canefields in the area.
While the fish kill cannot yet
be definitively linked to on-going pollution issues in the area,
every effort is being made by NEPA to ensure that this incident is
carefully investigated and addressed. NEPA will be collaborating
with the Water Resources Authority (WRA) and other entities to
determine the exact cause of the fish kill.
The Agency received a report on
Tuesday that several dead fish were seen in the Black River. NEPA
Officers visited the area on the same day and dead fish was seen at
the mouth of the river and up to 10 miles upstream. NEPA has taken
a water sample from the river and has also taken samples from dead
fish for testing. The sample from the river is now being tested at
the Agency’s laboratory and the results are expected to be available
by Tuesday of next week. The fish samples will, however, have to be
tested by the Veterinary Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and
Fisheries.
In the meantime, the Agency
will be meeting tomorrow with the management of one of the companies
operating a facility in the area.
NEPA will provide further
updates as the investigations progress.
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