Over 50, 000 fish found dead in Teluk Bahang, fish breeder suffers RM800, 000 in losses

Workers at the fish farm scooping up the dead fish. StarPicby:LIM BENG TATT/The Star/ 11 Aug 2019.

GEORGE TOWN: A fish breeder in Teluk Bahang has suffered losses of about RM800, 000 after more than 50, 000 of his fish died.

Ooi Hye Hin, 57, said he was alarmed to find that the fish started "jumping" in the waters at about 1am on Sunday (Aug 11).

"I knew something was wrong then and true enough, I found all of them dead this morning.

"This is the second time this year I have been hit. The first was in May and now this. It is worse than the first time because all my fish have died.

"I took a loan from the bank to start this business and I do not know how to repay the loan now that all my fish have died, " he said.

A team from Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (Cemacs) was also on site Sunday to conduct a preliminary investigation on the death of the fish.

It was reported in May that the sea off Teluk Bahang was said to be contaminated by heavy metals.

Fish were dying by the thousands and Ooi had reportedly said many of the fish breeders suffered losses due to the sea pollution, which caused the death of their fish stock.- Star