NewsWhore
08-17-2010, 03:10 PM
Ecotourism entrepreneur Jose Miguel de Pena said that the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture should ban fishing in the Hatillo Dam in Cotui province until the authorities are able to establish why fish are dying in the lake. Over the past two weeks a number of dead fish have been washed ashore. Reportedly, samples were taken 10 days ago. Reporters from Hoy said that several dead fish could be observed inside the lake. Reportedly, some of the fish displayed an accumulation of residues and an infection in their gills that impedes them from breathing, so they make it to shore. The stench of dead fish is evident in the area.
Hoy reports that there is a wave of speculation amongst local residents who blame the death of the fish to contamination from one of the three mining companies in the area, Barrick Gold, Cerro Maimon and Falconbridge.
Pena said that one of the theories about the death of the fish is that the Barrick Gold mining company is moving polluted earth at the source of Magajita River, and combined with the rains flowing down the river, this increases the acidity of the waters.
De Pena said that he does not trust the results of the investigation because the technicians only took samples of the water and not of the dead fish to do an autopsy and establish what had killed them.
The president of the Hatillo Dam Fishermen's Association, Andres Leonardo Romero said that the situation is causing a great deal of concern, because they make a living from fishing in the dam. He suspects the fish died as a result of the pollution.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#11)
Hoy reports that there is a wave of speculation amongst local residents who blame the death of the fish to contamination from one of the three mining companies in the area, Barrick Gold, Cerro Maimon and Falconbridge.
Pena said that one of the theories about the death of the fish is that the Barrick Gold mining company is moving polluted earth at the source of Magajita River, and combined with the rains flowing down the river, this increases the acidity of the waters.
De Pena said that he does not trust the results of the investigation because the technicians only took samples of the water and not of the dead fish to do an autopsy and establish what had killed them.
The president of the Hatillo Dam Fishermen's Association, Andres Leonardo Romero said that the situation is causing a great deal of concern, because they make a living from fishing in the dam. He suspects the fish died as a result of the pollution.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#11)