Fish found dead in Loubiere River

dead fish
Some of the dead fish found in the river

Authorities from the environmental health department are investigating a case of fish being found dead in a river at Loubiere.

“We are doing some investigation…we are doing some sampling of the water before we can come to a conclusion,” Chief Environmental Health Officer, Anthony Scotland, told DNO on Wednesday evening.

Reports are that several dead fish have, on numerous occasions, been found floating in the river.

Residents say they have made a number of complaints to the authorities on the matter.

They blame the Dominica Brewery and Beverages Limited (DBBL) plant which is located in the area, for polluting the water but Scotland said at this point the finger cannot be pointed at one source.

He said the plant and the areas surrounding it were visited on Wednesday and samples of water were taken.

“We inspected the Kubuli plant and the environment,” he said. “We cannot be only looking at one source. It is a river and we have people living right along it.”

He did not give a definite time as to when results of the test will be made public since, according to him, the samples might have to be sent to St. Lucia for testing and analysis.

“We are talking one to two weeks,” he stated.

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68 Comments

  1. anonymous2
    April 26, 2013

    Ban Gramazone, hericides and Round-up. Save the fish and wildlife as well as the people.

  2. bwa kwaieb
    April 25, 2013

    “”We are doing some investigation…we are doing some sampling of the water before we can come to a conclusion,” Chief Environmental Health Officer, Anthony Scotland, told DNO on Wednesday evening.”

    What boot leg school Scotland go nuh?!!!

  3. I man
    April 25, 2013

    Waste CAUSTIC water is being dumped into the river and thats not had to fiend.

  4. CAH-C-BRUCE
    April 25, 2013

    When I was a young boy it was called “Nivwaying”
    hope that is the proper term. My patois does fail me at times.
    All jokes aside, these occurrences do happen in nature.

    • Anonymous
      April 25, 2013

      all u guys are fools how can it be the the water company u you guys heads

  5. Hans
    April 25, 2013

    Fish dying in a minister’s constituency and he moo moo.? The parl rep should be all over this fiasco.
    Yes they care bout themselves , their counterfeit US dollars, overseas bank accounts etc

  6. Observer
    April 25, 2013

    It is very amazinghow many unschooled, but politically driven scientists we have here. An assumption by itself on such an important matter cannot translate to facts and scientific evidence. It is all well to have a view. But to advance that view as a scientific fact is indeed dumb for want of a better word. Oh! Dominica.

  7. Anonymous
    April 25, 2013

    This fish kill is a problem of an increase in the Biological Oxygen Demand cause by a huge amount of organic waste being dumped into the water. The end result is that oxygen is depleted and the fish cannot breathe… they die. The bigger issue is where is all that organic waste material coming from. Certainly not from residential premises in the Loubiere Fond Baron area!!!!

  8. Cuz
    April 25, 2013

    This is sad for DA and the Loubiere community but wat was funny an in poor taste was the News Reporter seating with her feet in the water while reporting that fish were dying in the river and they did not know the cause of it!…. :lol: :lol: :lol:

    • just a suggestion
      April 25, 2013

      OMG I thought so to. How stupid to be sitting there on a rock smiling, with your feet in the water reporting on dieing fish, when you have no clue as to chemicals, poisons or whatever, is causing the fish to die.

  9. daniel thomas
    April 25, 2013

    If the editor or who ever is responsible for screening those foolish and out right misleading comment
    about our country and it people, especially our leaders,he our she would not allowed these comment to be posted. D N O how can every dispute between family, community, incident and accident man made or natural be be link to the PM or government, please be more respectful to our leaders and public officials.

  10. grell
    April 25, 2013

    blame chinese,blame government the villagers might be the ones throwing chemicals in the river.years ago growing up on the west coast a certain farmer would discard oil directly into the river.for days fish would be floating dead in the river.the man was never stopped until his passing.so the villagers could be the culprits.

  11. SMH
    April 25, 2013

    The land of rivers and we can’t test a water sample? How ironic is that.

  12. thinking
    April 25, 2013

    Suggestion: At a beer and water factory,while I am not familiar with the procedures in manufacturing, I am thinking: can there be so much contaminants to pollute the water to kill the fishes? ok..whether this may be so or not, the factory should consider investing in a waste water treatment plant,to ensure that no contaminants are sent downstream and they can then boast of being environment friendly, and that they are meeting all environmental EOHS standards

  13. kixalonekuz
    April 25, 2013

    Lol funny convo but this is a serious matter

  14. (-_-)
    April 25, 2013

    Witness: When I was drinking my “cafay sentcher” I hear VADAM!

    Judge: Don’d say you hear vadam, say you heard the explosion of the dynamite.

    Witness: Yes my worship, I hear de excorshon of de dynamo. Titi, coco and millet! Dat was a crime!

  15. Lapin
    April 25, 2013

    The Loubiere River lies next to the centre of the next eruption point on Dominica, Morne Canot. In 1998 that volcanic centre was close to eruption but subsided.

    Underground emissions of poisonous gases preceed an eruption. This could affect water based wildlife. Indeed that may not be the cause for the present problem, but scientifically it is possible

    In relation to my comment below,in response to ‘Dasheen’ and ‘%’ about signs of volcanic activity see the following website:

    http://www.onemi.cl/en/risk/volcanic-eruption.html

    In the section entitled “Before”, for signs before an eruption, you will see the note:
    “Change in color, smell or temperature or dead fish in watercourses.”

    Something to consider.

    • Anonymous
      April 25, 2013

      Lapin, great point. While this may not be the cause, this is definitely a possibility. What we Dominicans seem to forget is that Morne Canot in southern Dominica on which the Loubiere river is located, still has the highest probability for a magmatic eruption in Dominica. Volcano-Tectonic earthquakes may not be felt by humans but do we know if they continue at levels which only the instruments are recording?

    • Dasheen
      April 25, 2013

      To Lapin, you should read this if you have not. It is very far ferched to say that contaminated water in any given river is a sure sign of volcanic activity furhter up the hill.
      https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/environment/no-recent-volcanic-activity-in-dominica-scientist/

  16. April 25, 2013

    :oops: Mess with the chinese u all will be eating dogs :oops:

  17. From Loubiere
    April 25, 2013

    In the early sixties there was plenty veyo and tata in the river.

  18. Anonymous
    April 25, 2013

    It might just well be that waste organic matter (in extremely large volumes) is being pumped into the water body and thus the Biological Oxygen Demand (volume of oxygen required to process a given volume of waste)has increased, depleting the oxygen content in the river water and as a result the fish are dying because they dont have enough oxygen to breathe. Thus a BOD test as a prime measure of the pollutional strength of waste water should be carried out to investigate this occurence. People in the EHD do know that and to have the public believe that “other sources” are being investigated is misleading. What other polluting source in the Loubiere area could be responsible for loading such a huge volume of organic matter into a water body to have the BOD increase to such an extent to kill fish??? Your guess is as good as mine

  19. ambasso
    April 25, 2013

    i am not a beer drinker, the kubuli may not be the cause. we must investigate whether another form of pollutant/foreign substance was use by someone else

  20. Malatete
    April 25, 2013

    As far as I know Dominica Brewery & Beverages Ltd. have their own laboratory and apart from quality assurance I would hope their mandate also includes analyses of brewery waste and its disposal. If not external- they must have internal audits and it would be in their interest to submit their records to the Public Health dept. Right now, in the absence of a public response by the company their “Kubuli” brand will attract bad publicity. The competition must be rejoicing in silence.

  21. budman
    April 25, 2013

    they soon sell dem dead fish and it appear on people dinner plate

  22. thinking
    April 25, 2013

    Uh….., does Kubuli, a beer and water factory, produce such contaminants that could contribute to the death of the river fishes? well, I don’t know the formulas and operating procedures there. The, there may be need for the factory to invest in a waste water treatment plant,whereby it can protect itself from being a contributor to environmental pollution

  23. Pondera
    April 25, 2013

    Good point! You may be testing water that is now ok. the polutant could have been washed out already. Mr Scotland! Test the fish! That’s the only sure way you can trace the cause of death.

  24. Anonymous
    April 25, 2013

    Come on! you expect to find any irregularities in flowing water, days after the fish died? millions of gallons of water flowing to the sea daily, and you testing for what?

  25. shakespere
    April 25, 2013

    if the authorities had found the fish smoking weed they would have been a full investigation already,they would have been fined and case closed :wink: :wink: :wink: :wink:

  26. bougla
    April 25, 2013

    the culprit should be heavily fined!

  27. MEME
    April 25, 2013

    THOSE FISH ARE REALLY BIG………. where is that River in Loubiere?????

    • No need
      April 25, 2013

      Why is someone giving the thumbs down to this comment. Those fish are big and not everyone will know where the river is if they are not familiar with the Loubiere area. Why did’nt you just reply with a description – that would have been more helpful.

  28. Anonymous
    April 25, 2013

    If waste is being poured into the river irregularly, no point taking a sample after it is all washed down. Why not test the fish as well? And honestly, I can’t believe the samples have to be sent to St. Lucia.

    • KoKo Naughts
      April 25, 2013

      I feel de same way on that St. Lucia vybes. If is not Martinique is TnT or Bdos. Now is St. Lucia?? Magway sa! Next thing is Marie Galant, man?

  29. hard head
    April 25, 2013

    …too much poo poo upstream.. :lol: :mrgreen: :lol:

  30. no more ambrose
    April 25, 2013

    Please don’t close down cubule at all!!!!!

    Boy Da have fish in river like tower

    but I never know loubiere have hot water so

    dem fish just die so

    what dat they eat nuh

    What Afi dem saying or willy

    I doh even hear that Ambrose man talking for those people

    but I hear they do want him again nuh

    hope they do d study and solve that environmental problem

    Is ther Gold in loubiere >>>>>>>

  31. Sammy
    April 24, 2013

    If no one knows why or no one wants to say what caused it, then I will just have to say it’s plague #1.

  32. AmazingFace
    April 24, 2013

    That water i saw on Marpin news looking like it had a whole set of soap powder in it. Hope somebody’s washing machine water not going down in that river…hmm.

  33. Dominiquen
    April 24, 2013

    That’s poison in the water. :?:

  34. Justice and Truth
    April 24, 2013

    They are big fishes. Do the rivers have such big fishes? Could they not have been washed up to the river from the sea, if that were possible? I hope that they did not ingest illegal drugs or water from same. No joking. Or did someone dump them in the river? Strange.

  35. cohenval
    April 24, 2013

    Somebody had a ‘malfant’ and let it go in the river. It wash down already.

    • Reader like U
      April 24, 2013

      Isn’t that suppose to be malvant.
      Am D/canare you?

  36. beholder
    April 24, 2013

    Steps should be taken to have a basic water analysis lab here. After all we need to test treated water, we need to test the effects of the drilling for geo-thermal on water supplies. If we are going to preserve the uniquely pristine environment of Dominica, we must be prepared to be test and protect our most valuable resource—pure, unpolluted water. And fish should be analyzed as well.

    • natal
      April 25, 2013

      there is a lab in stockfarm, what is it for?

  37. Dasheen
    April 24, 2013

    Could there be any geothermal development in the area????

    • %
      April 24, 2013

      I like that. I had not laughed since 1962. I am laughing now. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha1 Ha! Ha! Ha!

      • Justice and Truth
        April 24, 2013

        There must be a reason why you are laughing but it tells us nothing pertaining to your opinion. Why not share it with us?

      • Lapin
        April 25, 2013

        BE careful what you laugh about. The Loubiere River lies next to the centre of the next eruption point on Dominica, Morne Canot. In 1998 that volcanic centre was close to eruption but subsided. Underground emissions of poisonous gases preceed an eruption. This could affect water based wildlife. Indeed that may not be the cause for the present problem, but scientifically it is possible.

    • Peeping Tom
      April 24, 2013

      :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

      • April 25, 2013

        What are you a monkey?

    • MUDD
      April 25, 2013

      Yourself have to be itching you for you to make such a dumb comment, DASHEEN

      • Dasheen
        April 25, 2013

        Dear MUDD, not so dumb at all, given how people of the geothermal awareness group had sound evidence of the poisonous gases, deadly groundwater contamination, possible birth-defects and what not, adding up to a near total enviromental disaster as a consequence of harnessing geothermal resources.

  38. CocoaCalypso
    April 24, 2013

    Stop this madness now.

  39. dominican9
    April 24, 2013

    We really behind papa. I would expect by now we would be able to do our own testings for these kinds of investigations.

  40. Concern
    April 24, 2013

    Only now you all want to do investigation after all these years? Play like first time they hear about it, LIE! It will go in the waste basket as acustom like all other things that are happening in Dominca.

    Father Guide us please.

  41. %
    April 24, 2013

    That’s why when Athie, Wiltshire and the other environmentalists talk i listen. These people are among the deep lovers of Dominica and its riches.Never knew that our rivers had so many big fishes.
    There should be swift action by members of this lazy and incompetent government to find out who or what is responsible for this criminal act.
    So many poor Dominicans cannot afford to buy fish,its very hurtful to see and believe what i saw on television.

    • 767
      April 24, 2013

      Y don’t u get of your behind and try to do what our lazy government isn’t doing? Ppl like u make me sick! Do u even pray for the country and the ppl governing it? Try doing that and stop the BS. Make a contribution, help some one and realize we all have to work together to take our beautiful Dominica forward……

  42. DONT EDIT
    April 24, 2013

    thats a millet

  43. Anonymous
    April 24, 2013

    How about fish samples?

    • diva
      April 24, 2013

      Point taken … the fish may be best result besides the water test sample taken.

  44. LEGIT
    April 24, 2013

    toxic stuff oozing frm somewhere

  45. Natural Beauty
    April 24, 2013

    I hope some ‘bad-minded’ people dnt take that fish and sell for people eh saying is fresh fish they go and catch…

    • Reader like U
      April 24, 2013

      Like the saltfish issue lol! Things have changed and are real bad in DA since Skerrit et Al (the authentic one)Remember when the Solid Team (now gaseous)took accidental power in 1995 after DFP reach the height of backwardness.Wenowhave runaway president (stow-away) anda VC-ed P.M both
      by -products of asemi-feudal party 1980-1995(RIP)
      Nous pres finibat .Likeaguy above stated Iam laughing since 1979 hahahahahahaahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahaha lololololololololololololololol
      There are someformerly respected peeps in our psuedosociety who after mamodied sang long live the queen long live the kingwhen eddie came now it was longlive Rosie then Pierro nowlong live Skerro.

      • Reader like U
        April 24, 2013

        Left out a significant line .Since the cabal displaced the authentic DLP. That hould be in inserted after Skerrit et AL infiltrated the authentic……………….Camoflage DFPites in DLP what’s morecomical. nous finibat.

      • Reader like U
        April 25, 2013

        I did not have a …………. in my post where is the missing portion

    • Anonymous
      April 24, 2013

      I like that one. lol

      • Reader like U
        April 25, 2013

        Like they say in JA you doh must?lol
        You have to like it in dominican Palance.

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