on Dec 19th, 2006
Brazil Authorities Probe Fish Die-Off
Brazil Environmental Authorities Investigating Fish Die-Off in Southern River
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) — Environmental authorities were investigating what caused some 15 tons of dead fish to wash up in a major river in a southern state Monday.
Andre Milanez, of the Rio Grande do Sul state environmental agency FEPAM said that lack of rainfall was the most likely cause of death but that some kind of industrial accident or illegal runoff had not been ruled out.
“The river is sick. It can’t absorb anymore residential and industrial pollution dumping. Right now we’re just trying to get the fish out of there,” Milanez said by telephone from the state capital Porto Alegre, some about 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) southwest of Rio de Janeiro.
The Dos Sinos river runs along the outskirts of Porto Alegre and supplies water to some 32 cities across the state.
Milanez believes a lack of rainfall caused the river to heat up to around 34 Celsius (93.2 Fahrenheit) causing the water level to drop and reducing the amount of oxygen available to the fish.
Last October, some 85 tons of dead fished washed up in the same river, due to an illegal sewage discharge.
A local business man has been charged with illegal dumping for that incident.