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Posted: Nate on Jul 28 | Environment, Health
In the wake of unusually cold weather felt around the country last weekend, three departments have been experiencing a dramatic die-off of local fish populations. In Beni, Tarija, and Santa Cruz locals and officials have been reporting massive mortality rates among rish in river and lakes and have expressed concern at the risk of contamination as large numbers of fish decompose. In an attempt to allow the fish populations to rebound and to avoid contamination in human populations, residents in the affected areas are asking officials to end the fishing season early.
In the municipality of Villmontes the cold hit a fish breeding program particularly hard. The program was established to domestically breed and grow fish species as an alternative to over-fished rivers, but according to program director Wilman Arenas a significant number of the program´s fish population died in the cold.
In addition to the damage to the food supply, officials are concerned about the possibility of disease outbreaks as the decomposing fish pollute drinking water. The Environment and Water Ministry in cooperation with the Federal Biodiversity Office are sending biologists to the affected regions to gauge the damage done to local ecosystems and economies. Officials have been asking people not to buy partially decomposed fish because they run a higher risk of contracting disease.
The extent of the fish mortality was also influenced by the low water levels in many lakes and rivers and stressed condition of many fish populations caused by the pervasive drought conditions in much of the country. In addition to the fish die-out, the cold spell last week also severely damaged crop production and led to several deaths around the country.
For more in Spanish see:
http://www.laprensa.com.bo/noticias/28-7-2010/noticias/28-07-2010_1597.php
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