Something fishy in Athalassa park

RESULTS of a Forestry department investigation are expected in the next few days after a number of dead fish were found in Athalassa Park last week.

The department was notified on Friday that the fish had been found in a pond in the park. Later that day a meeting was held with officials from the Fisheries Department and Veterinary Services to examine the cause of the incident.

Samples of water and dead fish were taken for the purposes of the investigation. Amongst the causes being examined are pollution or a lack of oxygen due to eutrophication.

Eutrophication or hypertrophication, is the ecosystem’s response to the addition of artificial or natural substances, such as nitrates and phosphates, through fertilisers or sewage, to an aquatic system.

“We expect the results of the tests in the next few days which will lead us to measures which will need to be taken to protect the wetland,” a forestry department official said.

he forestry department collects and removes dead fish from the area on a daily basis to prevent the situation from worsening, or from diminishing the quality of water and for public health reasons.

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