VietNamNet Bridge – More than 160 tonnes of fish raised in floating cages on Cai Nho River in Tan Thanh Commune in the Mekong Delta Province of Tien Giang have died over the past few days, incurring an initially estimated loss of up to dozens of billions of dong.

Fish die en masse on Cai Nho River of Tien Giang Province. - VNA/VNS Photo

The cause of the fish death is unknown, according to Nguyen Tan Cuong, chairman of the communal People’s Committee.

The fish, mostly weighing more than 0.5 kg each and about to be harvested, were found dead starting on October 16. Over two days of October 19 and 20, the number of dead fish reached its highest level.

Tan Thanh Commune has 15 fish farming households with 105 cages, mainly housing Red Tilapia. Five households suffered the most severe losses.

Do Van Tang, one of the breeders who suffered the most said that his initial loss was estimated to reach over VND2 billion (US$87,000) from more than 50 tonnes of dead fish.

Many breeders sold the dead fish to fertiliser processing companies at a price of VND1,000-2,000 ($0.05-0.1).

Authorised agencies of Tien Giang Province have collected water samples to investigate the cause of the fish death.

According to Thanh Niên (Young People) newspaper, flood water released from neighbouring fields might be the cause. 

Source: VNS