Thousands of fish die from rapid plankton growth

CHUMPHON: -- Marine biologists this morning began drawing up urgent measures to protect the coastal ecosystem of Thailand's southern province of Chumphon after virulent plankton growth left thousands of dead fish washed up on a 30-kilometre stretch of the province's beaches.

Officials who visited Pathiw district this morning after having been alerted by local villagers were greeted with scenes of devastation, with whole beaches covered in dead fish.

Mr. Wuthichai Jenkan, director of the Mid Gulf of Thailand Marine and Coastal Research Centre, attributed the phenomenon to the rapid cell growth of plankton, which had caused a massive release of ammonia, and had consequently starved the fish of oxygen.

Although the plankton is not in itself poisonous, and dies a natural death within one or two weeks, the effect on the marine ecosystem and people who derive their livelihoods from it can be devastating.

The phenomenon, which changes the colour of the seawater, is most common between February and April.

The marine biologists called on government agencies to introduce measures to prevent the phenomenon and protect local fish and coral, noting that in other countries, including Japan and Singapore, boats went out every year to help control the plankton's growth.

--TNA 2005-02-11

I thought this was called an Algae Bloom?

I thought it was a natural occurrance that will pass with time.

I thought it was a natural occurrance that will pass with time.

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Exactly, but head lines like this make a big name for the person concerned!!

I have noticed that Thai scientists and academics do like to stand up and shout about something that is old news proclaiming it to be freshly discovered and also to invent items that have been around for years in the West.