Hydropower plant water release causes mass fish deaths in north

Around 40 tonnes of fish raised in cages on Da River have died en masse over the past few days, due to the water release of the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant.

Around 40 tonnes of fish raised in cages on Da River have died en masse over the past few days, due to the water release of the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant.

 

Hydropower plant water release causes mass fish deaths in north.

According to the northern province of Phu Tho’s Thanh Thuy District, by late Wednesday, as many as 76 fish cages of 19 households were affected by the water discharge of the hydropower plant’s two flood gates.

The fish deaths were attributed to the high levels of mud and silt which reduced oxygen levels in the water.

The mass fish deaths were valued at around VND3.1 billion. (USD134,782).

Thanh Thuy District’s authorities asked concerned agencies to report the losses to the provincial people’s committee in order for them to provide assistance to fish breeders.

Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant in the namesake province opened one flood gate on September 30 and three days later, one more flood gate was opened, resulting in the deaths from October 4.

Earlier, local fish breeders were informed of the water release and instructed to move cages close to the river bank to minimise damage. Fish breeders were advised to sell adult fish, while smaller dead fish could be fed to animals.