The short-term mass death of thousands of marine creatures in the New Ireland region of Papua New Guinea has caused serious concern. Following the incident, local authorities have banned fish consumption.
Medianews.az reports, citing "Qafqazinfo", that more than 3,000 fish and other marine creatures died within just five days.
Experts report observing unusual signs in the dead fish, such as color changes, eye swelling, and greenish flesh.
The incident has caused not only an ecological but also a health crisis. It is noted that at least 750 people living in the region faced various health problems after consuming fish or coming into contact with seawater. Symptoms such as chest pain, coughing, and skin diseases have been recorded.
Papua New Guinea's Minister of Fisheries, Yelta Wong, appealed to the public, urging temporary abstention from fish consumption. Officials are investigating the possible chemical contamination in seawater and fish, but the exact cause has not yet been determined.
The incident has also worsened the socio-economic situation in the region. Since fishing is the main livelihood in villages with about 1,500 inhabitants, the ban has led to food shortages and income loss. The risk of malnutrition, especially among children, has increased.
During investigations, the phenomenon known as "red tide" was reportedly observed in the sea. Experts speculate that it could be related to the rapid proliferation of toxic algae.