Dead fish found floating near Navutu Foreshore

Residents of Navutu Settlement in Lautoka were left alarmed on Monday after discovering dead fish floating within five metres of the foreshore, prompting a swift response from government authorities.

The Ministry of Fisheries and the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways visited the site to collect water and fish samples for investigation. This is the first time such an incident has occurred in the area, according to settlement headman Kaminieli Bainitabua.

"The dead fish were small Baba, but the big dead fish were found near in the creek. People found dead fish while swimming in the sea. The fish cannot be eaten because they may be poisonous.”

He suspects a chemical spillage into a nearby creek may have caused the fish deaths.

His daughter, Ana Bainitabua, said her uncle traced the trail of dead fish from a drain to the shoreline and up to a warehouse, raising concerns about potential pollution.

She said it was a concern for people and the environment because the dead fish could also affect people who swim.

Officials from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change also collected samples of fish measuring between 5 to 20 centimetres and water for laboratory testing. In a statement, the ministry confirmed it was alerted by the Ministry of Fisheries at 11.30am and conducted a site visit at 2.30pm.

"Following the notification, the Ministry’s Western Division team conducted a site visit at approximately 2.30 pm to verify the report and carry out preliminary observations," a statement said. 

"During the inspection, the team collected dead fish samples (measuring approximately 5cm to 20cm in length) and water samples for laboratory analysis."

"At this stage, the ministry is unable to determine the likely cause of the fish mortality based on field observations alone."

"The samples have been sent to accredited laboratories for testing, and the ministry will await these results before confirming whether the incident is linked to any pollution activity."

The ministry has requested a Biological Rapid Assessment (BioRAP) to determine if natural environmental or climatic factors may be involved. Compliance monitoring is also underway to check for unlawful discharges or activities in the area.

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