Death of 500 fish at Milnerton Lagoon under investigation

FISH DIE-OFF AT MILNERTON LAGOON UNDER INVESTIGATION

The City said after the matter was reported it dispatched a team from the Table Bay Nature Reserve to remove the dead fish from Milnerton Lagoon on the same day, 3 March.

“Approximately 500 fish, consisting of juvenile Mullet species, primarily Southern Mullet (Liza richardsoni), were collected in the shallows and on the eastern shoreline,” said the City of  Cape Town.

An investigation to determine the possible causes of the die-off is underway, including an analysis of the lagoon’s water quality. The City continues to monitor the situation.

The Milnerton Central Residents Association wrote to Cape Town MayCo member for Water and Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, to complain about “worsening foul smells” around the lagoon this week.

“Today the sandy bed of the Lagoon is strewn with small dead fish, which can only be seen where the incoming tide has caused the murky dark river water to clear. Dead fish have also been spotted on the banks,” wrote Caroline Marx, of the resident’s association, on Thursday.

The association called for the water testing analysis’ results to be shared with affected communities, as there have been photographs and videos that allegedly show non-compliant effluent discharge from the Potsdam Wastewater Treatment Works