- Title: MEXICO-FISH Thousands of dead fish wash up on Mexico's Lake Cajititlan
- Date: 19th August 2015
- Summary: TLAJOMULCO, JALISCO, MEXICO (AUGUST 18, 2015) (REUTERS) DEAD FISH IN LAKE CAJITITLAN FISHERMEN SCOOPING UP DEAD FISH IN NET SHOVEL MORE OF DEAD FISH FISHERMAN CARRYING DEAD FISH IN WHEELBARROW MORE OF DEAD FISH FISHERMAN GATHERING NET DEAD FISH WASHED UP ON SHORE MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (AUGUST 19, 2015) (REUTERS) NEWS CONFERENCE WITH OFFICIALS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PROSECUTOR AT MEXICO'S ENVIRONMENTAL BODY PROFEPA, GUILLERMO HARO, SAYING: "We're going to submit recommendations in the coming days regarding fundamentally the inadequate use of, or operations of wastewater treatment plants around Cajititlan Lake which resulted in the lack of oxygen for species." TLAJOMULCO, JALISCO, MEXICO (AUGUST 18, 2015) (REUTERS) DEAD FISH IN LAKE MEN RAKING UP DEAD FISH VARIOUS OF DEAD FISH MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (AUGUST 19, 2015) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PROSECUTOR AT MEXICO'S ENVIRONMENTAL BODY PROFEPA, GUILLERMO HARO, SAYING: "The species which die annually are known as popochas, which is a significant number but I insist that the deaths (of the fish) are due to a lack of oxygen, from wastewater in the lake." OFFICIALS AT END OF NEWS CONFERENCE TLAJOMULCO, JALISCO, MEXICO (AUGUST 18, 2015) (REUTERS) MAN SHOVELLING DEAD FISH MAN MOVING DEAD FISH IN WHEELBARROW
- Embargoed: 3rd September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Mexico
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA4KPMB3F8H05RU8N8UC0EXNDFU
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thousands of dead fish have washed up on Mexico's Lake Cajititlan in less than a week, with the discharge of waste into the freshwater lake thought to be the cause of the mass die-off.
According to officials, nearly 50 tonnes of dead fish have been removed by local residents at the lake in Mexico's Pacific state of Jalisco. State authorities have raised an environmental alert for the body of water, but human health is not considered to be at risk.
Waste discharge from local treatment plants have been blamed for the dead fish.
Speaking in Mexico City on Wednesday (August 19), the prosecutor at Mexico's environmental body Profepa, Guillermo Haro, said authorities will submit their recommendations following investigations at the site.
"We're going to submit recommendations in the coming days regarding fundamentally the inadequate use of, or operations of wastewater treatment plants around Cajititlan Lake which resulted in the lack of oxygen for species," he said.
Local authorities had originally blamed the "natural cycle" of the fish locally known as papocha for the mass deaths. But authorities told media on Wednesday the deaths were very likely man-made contamination.
"The species which die annually are known as popochas, which is a significant number but I insist that the deaths (of the fish) are due to a lack of oxygen, from wastewater in the lake," added Haro.
Possible fines could be levied on the plants around the lake if they are found guilty of not properly managing their waste discharge. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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