Mussafah marine disaster probed

The Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (Erwda) and the Health and Environment Section of the Municipality are separately investigating the mysterious death of thousands of fish in Mussafah Creek.

According to Erwda, the agency's Marine Environmental Research Centre (Merc) has already launched an investigation into the marine environment disaster.

An agency spokesperson told Gulf News a team of Merc experts have already inspected the site and have collected both seawater and fish samples. According to sources, lack of oxygen in the water could be one of the many reasons.

However, the spokesperson said it is premature to suggest anything before the results are out. She added the centre is preparing a comprehensive report. "The report will also include remedial efforts."

The health and environmental section is also investigating the cause of the disaster, according to a source.

The section's experts first noticed the problem on Wednesday morning when they were on a routine inspection visit to the creek. The dead fish, which looked like mackerel, were washed up on both banks of the creek which is filled with garbage.

Hundreds more fish could be seen from the two banks struggling to survive the mysterious contamination, and escape from seagulls hovering to feast on them.