Dead fish on Shuwaikh shore elevates concern
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KUWAIT CITY, April 25: A concerning incident unfolded along the shores of the Shuwaikh region as a significant number of fish were found dead, strewn across the beach from opposite the Petroleum Corporation building to the National Assembly building. The distressing sight, brought about by waves from Kuwait Bay, has prompted swift action from local authorities.
Marzouq Al-Azmi, Deputy Director of the General Authority for Agriculture for the Fisheries Sector, shed light on the situation, acknowledging the limited scale of the fish mortality near Al-Salam Beach and Shuwaikh. He attributed the phenomenon to various factors, including environmental stressors such as rain outlets, red tide occurrences, and the degradation of seawater quality due to human activities.
In response to the crisis, the Authority has reached out to the Environment Public Authority to assess the extent of mortality and explore mitigation measures. Al-Azmi assured the public that efforts are underway to clean the coastline and remove the dead fish in collaboration with relevant agencies.
Furthermore, plans are in motion to convene a committee to investigate the recurrence of such incidents, analyze underlying causes, and devise preventive strategies.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Zaidan, Deputy Director General of the Environment Public Authority for Technical Affairs, provided additional insights into the situation. He explained that the annual mortality of jade fish, observed around mid-April, is attributed to coastal sewage sources affecting water quality, leading to phenomena such as red tide and nutrient enrichment.
Al-Zaidan emphasized that the current mortality event is exacerbated by the fish’s migration patterns and reproductive behavior, making them susceptible to the adverse effects of environmental pollutants and red tide blooms.
Efforts are underway to monitor environmental conditions through advanced forecasting systems and satellite imaging, collaborating with state agencies, the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, and the Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment. These measures aim to assess chlorophyll levels, sea surface temperatures, and the presence of red tide, facilitating proactive responses to mitigate further fish mortality incidents along the affected coastline.
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