The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Study of water samples from Karapad Bay begins

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Sunday, Feb 17, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Study of water samples from Karapad Bay begins

R Vimal Kumar

Thousands of fish were found dead there

Tuticorin: The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Tuticorin unit, on Friday commenced the study of water samples from Karapad Bay here where thousands of fish were found dead on Thursday.

Speaking to The Hindu, P. S. Asha, scientist (fisheries environment division), who heads the study, said that preliminary research had confirmed the entry of freshwater carrying pollutants into the Bay, which could have caused the mortality in large numbers. “It’s also noticed that there has been a presence of ‘oil flicks’ in the area.”

According to her, it would take at least a couple of more days for the institute to ascertain the entire profile of pollutants in the samples taken randomly from along the four km stretch of waters of Karapad Bay.

The institute would also examine the levels of oil, ammonia, chlorophyll and nutrient levels in the water samples during the course of study.

However, she ruled out the possibility of mortality of fish in large numbers because of reduction in salinity levels to about 27 ppt (parts per thousand) after large quantity of rain water flowed into the area on Thursday.

“As part of our research over the past decade, we had even observed salinity dipping to 13 ppt during monsoons which never resulted in the death of fishery resources in the region,” she pointed out.

Environmental norms

Meanwhile, Anton Gomez, convener of National Forum for Environment Protection and former trustee of Tuticorin Port Trust board, blamed the handling of cargoes of materials such as copper concentrate at the Tuticorin port, situated at one edge of the Bay, without confining to environmental standards stipulated by the government, for the presence of pollutants in the region.

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