150 tons of tilapia found dead...Vietnam

Tonnes of farm fish found dead

Fri, Dec 31, 2010 Viet Nam News/Asia News Netowrk

DONG THAP - More than 150 tonnes of red tilapias have died en masse in the past week in Cao Lanh District in the southern province of Dong Thap, resulting in losses of VND35 billion (S$2.2 million) for aquaculture farmers. Red tilapias are the world's most popular farmed fish. They are fast growing and low in mercury. The dead fish were being raised by 41 households along the Can Lo River. It was the first time such a disaster has occurred. "Tests on the fish and water samples reveal the deaths were caused by frequent ebb tides and the high densities of fish kept caged in pens," said Vu Thi Nhung, head of the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment's Environmental Protection Division. The tests were conducted by the department and Can Tho University. Nhung added that ebb tides created high amounts of organic substances in the water, which helped make oxygen levels below regulated levels. The density of the fish in pens was 130-200 per square metre, much higher than the 90-150. "The more organic substances deposited, the less oxygen in the water. This is what killed them," said Nhung. She added that the department did not have any plan to support local farmers who lost their fish. But it will hold training courses to make sure farmers understand the proper technology for raising the fish. Share144

More Dead Birds? Or am I just losing track of all of the stories?

Dead birds in West Texas?

Reported by: Chase Thomason Email: cthomason@fox34.com Last Update: 1/06 11:19 pm

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More birds are showing up dead and now they are found in West Texas. Plainview Animal Control was called in to pick up about 35 dead grackles found in a parking lot Sunday morning. State game wardens say there is no cause for concern. They suspect the birds probably fell victim to turbulent wind currents Saturday night that dashed the small flock to the ground.   Lubbock captain Bill Jones said other natural causes like contaminated water, freezing temperatures, or spoiled grain are common culprits. “I can see where people are getting concerned because you have one inLouisiana and one in Arkansas. Bird die-offs are not uncommon, especially inTexas as large as it is where multiple of things could just happen. Birds, I won't say they are unhealthy but it doesn't take a lot to kill them,” said Jones. People around the country are calling this an 'aflockalypse'.  Over the past two weeks around 200 birds were reported dead in Tyler, TX and in Kentucky, 500 inLouisiana and 5,000 dead in Arkansas. Fish are showing up dead as well, 100,000 in Arkansas while 2 million fish washed up on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.

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