Panaji: The recent death of a large number of fish in Carambolim lake may be due to excessive growth of a weed that raised the biological oxygen demand in the water body.
Forest department officials visited the state's only important bird and biodiversity area outside wildlife sanctuaries after a TOI report (dated June 2, 2016) highlighted the worrisome fish mortality.
"The fish mortality may be due to the thick carpet of weed in the lake. The extended summer may have also heated up the water body due to a decline in water-level," a forest official said.
Carambolim comunidade had opened the sluice gate to release the water after many years. While fields are now uncultivated, the water was not being released as agricultural activities had dwindled. Fish mortality had also been reported in June 2010 when the water had been released during the summer.
Streams draining into the lake, carry sewage and household waste which give rise to nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous. The nutrients boost the growth of aquatic organisms, which consume the oxygen and kill the fish in their habitat.
Carambolim lake, a world famous birding spot in Goa, had been infested with Salvinia molesta weed some years ago.
But various groups, activists and villagers had participated in a voluntary programme to pull it out. The forest department had also engaged labourers to clear the menace of the weed.
The forest department plans to hold a meeting of stakeholders and the local comunidade to discuss measures to clean up the lake. Birders are worried about the health of the water body, as the number of winter visitors and even resident birds in the lake has shown a decline.
TOI Goa News
Forest department officials visited the state's only important bird and biodiversity area outside wildlife sanctuaries after a TOI report (dated June 2, 2016) highlighted the worrisome fish mortality.
"The fish mortality may be due to the thick carpet of weed in the lake. The extended summer may have also heated up the water body due to a decline in water-level," a forest official said.
Carambolim comunidade had opened the sluice gate to release the water after many years. While fields are now uncultivated, the water was not being released as agricultural activities had dwindled. Fish mortality had also been reported in June 2010 when the water had been released during the summer.
Streams draining into the lake, carry sewage and household waste which give rise to nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous. The nutrients boost the growth of aquatic organisms, which consume the oxygen and kill the fish in their habitat.
Carambolim lake, a world famous birding spot in Goa, had been infested with Salvinia molesta weed some years ago.
But various groups, activists and villagers had participated in a voluntary programme to pull it out. The forest department had also engaged labourers to clear the menace of the weed.
The forest department plans to hold a meeting of stakeholders and the local comunidade to discuss measures to clean up the lake. Birders are worried about the health of the water body, as the number of winter visitors and even resident birds in the lake has shown a decline.
TOI Goa News
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