By Our Reporter
The Epe Tilapia Fish Farmers under the Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support Project of the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture are by now lamenting the sudden and massive death to their rearing Tilapia fishes.
Last week, the Tilapia fish farmers raised alarm after sudden death of thousands of their specie in their fish ponds at the Cottage Fish Processing Center, Ebute Afuye Cluster, Epe, Lagos State, were found to have died.
The fish farmers alleged that dredging activities by Renecon Limited close to their fish ponds was responsible for the sudden death of the fishes.
According to a member of the Tilapia fish farmers, Alhaji Kabiru Alogba, the fish farmers are still counting their lost as a result of mass death of the fishes they have spent much time, money and energy rearing them for months noting that except the state government come to their rescue, many among the will go bankrupt.
Related Posts
Alogba acknowledged the state government has sent officials to Ebute Afuye Cluster but he said what the fish farmers needed most at this juncture is financial support to replace what they have lost as a result of dredging operation going on around their fish ponds within the fish processing centre.
In the mean time, the state has sent an investigating team led by the Director of Zonal Directorates, Mr. Abiodun Ogunleye, to caarry out preliminary investigation on what could have caused the sudden death of thousands of caged Tilapia fishes in their ponds.
For proper scientific analysis, it was gathered that solid sediments from different points on the lagoon including the dredging area, the lagoon water from six different points, and three live fishes from the ponds, have been taken as samples for laboratory analysis to unravel the real cause of the death of the specie.
Other samples taken from within the area include well water used by the community for cooking and drinking, sample from the borehole donated to the community by Rencon Limited as well as sample from the borehole used by the Military men in the lagoon environment, all these were taken for laboratory analysis and investigation at the LASEPA certified laboratory.
Other Departments in the preliminary investigation include; Laboratory Services, Land and Water Pollution Control, Natural Resources and Epe Zonal Directorate.
The fish farmers are still waiting for the report of the investigations into the incident while they also look forward to proper compensation for what they have lost.
