The fish die-off at the floodgates close to Zagers Gut (see Monday newspaper), sparked a massive clean-up. They quickly started rotting and produced a strong unpleasant stench that spread over the area.
According to the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA, eating these fish whether dead or still alive may pose a serious risk to both humans and animals. They are to be considered unfit for consumption.
Similar phenomena have occurred at the Great Salt- and/or Fresh Ponds repeatedly over the years, for example twice in 2013. Back then the St. Maarten Nature Foundation attributed this to lack of rainfall and wind combined with land reclamation, causing poor circulation and a drop in dissolved oxygen to near 1 part per million compared to the normal level of 7 ppm.
Their worry at the time was that Tilapias introduced to the island would be the first to die, followed by Tarpon, Mullets and other native species. Concerns were rightly raised about pollution, but tests taken so far showed that problem not to be so alarming.
Managing the levels of the two ponds obviously plays a big role, but is also important to prevent flooding when expecting heavy showers including those accompanying tropical systems. In other words, keeping creatures in and around them alive cannot be the only motivation.
Perhaps the recently announced installation of new pumps at Sucker Garden and Pond Island will enable increased stability in that sense.
