The Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources confirmed, on Sunday, that fishing by electric shock and releasing fingerlings led to a decrease in the water level in the fourth channel feeding the marshes and the death of fish there.
The ministry said in a statement, a copy of which was obtained by Al-Khaleej: “Some social media sites and media outlets circulated news that fish had died in the Al-Sahin Marsh, west of Maysan Governorate, southern Iraq. In this regard, the ministry would like to clarify that fishing by means of electric shock and the release of fingerlings led to a decrease in the water level in the fourth channel feeding the marshes and the death of fish there.”
- Revitalizing the marshes
She added: “A team consisting of the Director of the Department of Revitalization of Marshes and Wetlands, the Water Quality and Environment Team, and the Water Resources and Agriculture Officials in the Al-Khair and Al-Adl districts conducted a field tour to see the causes of the deaths,” pointing to “fishing by electric shock and throwing large fish such as Shanka and Hari.”
The statement explained that “the water quality test showed that the salt content was 1900 and the oxygen content was 9, and at a distance of one kilometer from the precautionary dam, the salt content was 2100 and the oxygen content was 8.”
The statement added that “the concerned parties took a sample of the fish to the Maysan Veterinary Directorate to conduct the necessary laboratory tests.”