18
Apr 09Red Tide suspected for massive fish poisoning
During the first weeks of April unmeasurable quantities of dead fish were found in the shores of several of Guanacaste´s beaches. The first such fetid show being that of playa Lagarto on Sunday 5th where hundreds of sardines were found dead early in the morning hours.
The Ministry of Health had immediately issued a request to the local inhabitants to refrain from bathing in the nearby waters or consuming any sea products of dubious origin.
The “Red Tide” phenomena –named such for the red coloured water effect produced by micro-organism that infect the algae in the waters and which is later ingested by molluscs- has been blamed for the unfortunate event. The pollution in the surrounding areas, weather variations and other factors are common origin to the aforementioned.
Despite calls by the local authorities, many locals have turned to burn the carcases of the dead fish while unknowingly hurting the local environment.