Large numbers of dead fish found near Tanjung Kupang

GELANG PATAH: Large numbers of fish were found dead in sea cages near Tanjung Kupang here last week, dealing a blow to fish breeders who said the losses had severely impacted their income.
DAP state assemblyman for Pengkalan Rinting Cheo Yee How said initial losses was estimated at RM1 million and urged the related authorities to render help to the affected fish breeders.
Fish breeder, Goh Lai Soon, 37, said the occurrence of the dead fish began sometime in early March.
Goh who has been breeding fish for seven years, said the red tide phenomenon was over last month and was not a likely cause for the large numbers of dead fish in the area.
He said fish breeders in the area were puzzled, as they had taken prevention measures to mitigate the impact of plankton bloom that always triggered a massive amount of fish deaths.
Goh said he had no choice but to stop his fish breeding business for now due to the losses sustained.
He said samples of the dead fish and water have yet to be submitted to the Gelang Patah Fisheries Department for analysis.
There are about twenty sea cage fish farmers along the Johor Straits near Tanjung Kupang.