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On February 16, 2016, a mass fish mortality incident occurred on the Cai Vung River in the Mekong Delta. The environmental degradation led to localized oxygen depletion, drastically reducing dissolved oxygen levels crucial for aquaculture. Agricultural authorities in An Giang and Dong Thap provinces reported over 1,100 tons of farmed fish perished, with 650 tons in Dong Thap alone.
In mid-May 2016, over 70 tons of various fish species were found dead in the Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal. Authorities attributed this to localized water pollution following early seasonal rains. This recurring issue prompted municipal authorities to coordinate with relevant agencies and districts to mitigate future incidents. Measures include increased water quality monitoring by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and efforts to improve water flow to reduce localized pollution.
Unusual mass fish deaths along the Central Coast of Vietnam in April 2016
In mid-July, a significant number of fish died in Mật Sơn Lake, Đông Vệ Ward, Thanh Hóa City, causing environmental pollution and affecting the daily lives of residents. Immediate investigations by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment revealed that poor water quality in the lake led to this mass fish mortality.
Large fish perish in Hoang Cau Lake (Hanoi) on June 8, 2016, under unclear circumstances, with some weighing several kilograms. Locals reported the unusual fish deaths starting after a light rain. Hundreds of workers and machines were mobilized to retrieve dead fish and aerate the lake to rescue the remaining fish.
Mass fish deaths occurred under the irrigation canal within the Khanh Phu Industrial Zone (Ninh Binh) from August 3, 2016, to August 4, 2016. Upon discovery, locals alerted authorities to investigate, implicating a company suspected of polluting water and causing fish deaths, resulting in chaotic fish retrieval efforts.
Fishermen in the Saigon River basin noticed mass fish deaths around 4 am on July 6, with the main affected areas being in Ap 4, Minh Tam Commune, and Ap Bau Lung, Tan Hiep Commune, Hon Quan District (Binh Phuoc). The species affected include carp, tilapia, catfish, and a small quantity of eel, totaling approximately 2 tons.
Authorities attributed the initial cause of mass fish deaths in the Da Co canal (Hoa Minh Ward, Lien Chieu District, Da Nang City) to oxygen depletion. On October 2, the company mobilized workers to retrieve and dispose of the dead fish. The decrease in oxygen levels in the water was identified as the primary cause of the fish mortality.
Mass deaths of cage-raised fish occurred on the Nam Non River from August 21 to August 23, 2016, with an unknown cause. Investigations revealed that eight households in Cua Rao 1 village (Xa Luong commune, Tuong Duong district) were raising 12 fish cages, mainly containing carp and tilapia. Most of the cages were located on the Nam Non River where it converges with Nam Mon to form the Lam River. Experienced fish farmers in the area found the phenomenon perplexing, suspecting the influx of dirty water from gold mining areas upstream following typhoon No. 3...
A widespread occurrence of fish deaths in West Lake (Hanoi) started on October 1 and continued on October 2. Hanoi authorities mobilized 1,000 personnel to collect the dead fish and transport them to the Nam Son waste treatment area for disposal. By the afternoon of October 4, the number of dead fish near the lake shore had decreased. However, the lingering foul smell from decaying fish carcasses continued to affect lakeside businesses, impacting the daily lives of residents. An estimated 200 tons of dead fish were retrieved from West Lake. Initial inspections by authorities during the widespread fish deaths indicated that surface water oxygen levels were zero and ammonia levels were 24 times higher than regulations permit.
