A Total Of 15 Tons Of Fish In Lake Maninjau Died Allegedly Due To Dizziness Due To Strong Winds

A fish carcass floats on the edge of Lake Maninjau in Nagari Bayua, Tanjungraya District, Agam Regency. (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Department of Fisheries and Food Security in Agam Regency, West Sumatra recorded that the total mass fish mortality in Lake Maninjau reached 15 tons.

"This is the data we obtained from floating net cage farmers in the volcanic lake," said Head of the Agam Fisheries and Food Security Service, Ermanto, accompanied by Fishery Extension Officer Asrul in Lubukbasung, reported by Antara, Wednesday, February 3.

He said that 15 tonnes of fish were scattered in Nagari Bayua as many as five tonnes and Nagari Koto Malintang for 10 tonnes.

The fish come from dozens of floating net cages belonging to dozens of farmers.

"One floating net cage with the death of about 100 to 200 kilograms," he said.

He added that the fish died en masse due to strong winds that hit the area in the last few days.

With this condition, the fish become dizzy and float to the surface of the lake, after the oxygen is reduced at the bottom of the lake.

After that the fish die in bulk and the carcasses of the fish float in the floating net cages.

"The total loss of farmers due to the death was around Rp. 300 million and about one ton of deaths occurred since Tuesday, February 2," he said.

Ermanto appealed to fishermen to immediately harvest the fish and transfer them to a pool of fast water to anticipate significant losses.

This is at the same time a reminder because the wind is still strong in the area.

Meanwhile, Wali Nagari Koto Malintang, Naziruddin added that the death of the 10 tonnes of fish was scattered in each jorong. Most of them are in Talao, Jorong Rambai.

"The fish carcasses have been collected by the farmers into burlap which are placed in the floating net cages," he said.