Fish kill reported in South Negril River

May 10, 2012

The National Environment & Planning Agency (NEPA) is confirming that there is a report of a fish kill in the South Negril River in Westmoreland. The cause of the fish kill has not yet been ascertained.

NEPA received a report just after 10:00 a.m. that several specimens of dead fish were seen floating down the river towards the sea and that fishermen in the area were collecting fishes that appeared to be stunned.

NEPA officers are on location conducting investigations with the assistance of rangers from the Negril Area Environmental Protection Trust (NEPT) and the Negril Coral Reef Preservation Society (NCRPS).

Fish and water samples are to be collected from the river for laboratory analysis that could assist in the investigations to determine the cause of the reported kill.

The public is being cautioned not to purchase and consume fish which may have been taken from the South Negril River.