River Valley Residents Demand Answers on Sudden Fish Kill

Residents in the Belize River Valley are being told to stay away from fish and other aquatic life from parts of the river after an unusual fish kill left dozens of dead fish floating this week. The Department of the Environment says early signs point to low oxygen levels in the water, but investigators are still working to confirm what triggered the die-off. For communities that depend on the river, the warning has raised bigger questions about what is in the water, how widespread the problem is, and when it will be safe again. News Five’s Britney Gordon has the story.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

The Belize River may look calm today as it winds through the River Valley, but residents say something troubling is happening beneath the surface. Hundreds of fish appear to be struggling to survive, and earlier this week, dozens were found dead along the riverbanks. The big question tonight is why.

 

Sharon Robinson, Flowers Bank Resident

“That only could be a s suspicion that something  from way up in Cayo side or somewhere along the river bank above us. Something went in the river because I remember back about ten years ago, same thing happened. But that time it was mainly the lobsters. They, they kill out, like, from back then till now, we just did see lobster again, and the same way, I guess they wipe out them again.”

 

 

 

A multi-agency team is now looking into the Belize River Valley fish kill. Officials have tested the water and assessed possible pollution sources. Early findings point to low oxygen levels, but the cause is still unknown. We asked ecologist Dr. Colin Young what could be behind the drop.

 

Dr. Colin Young, Ecologist

“Large amounts of sedimentation that goes into a waterway  that has runoff that includes fertilizers like nitrogen and other fertilizers that you would use on a farm and with the recent large amounts of rainfall that fell in that particular area, you would expect that there’s a large amount of sediment load going into the waterway that ends up in the river. This can then cause the growth of bacteria and algae and other organisms  that takes up and use up the oxygen.”

 

 

 

Investigators still have not confirmed what caused the fish kill in the Belize River Valley, and officials are not ruling out heavy sediment in the water as a possible factor. For now, the Department of the Environment is urging residents to play it safe: do not eat fish or other aquatic life from the affected areas, and do not drink untreated river water or use it for cooking or for animals. While most households in the River Valley rely on BWSL water, which the DOE says is safe, some residents still depend on the river, making the warning especially important.

 

 

 

 

Francisca Madril, Isabella Bank Resident

“Yes I concerned about….di dead.”

 

 

 

 

 

While the community remains uncertain about the safety of the water, residents are hopeful that they will soon be able to use it again as they have already seen improvements in its appearance and the number of dead fish has decreased.

 

Britney Gordon

“Does it look better to you?”

 

Voice of: Flowers Bank Resident

“Much better.”

 

Britney Gordon

“What’s different about it?”

 

Voice of: Flowers Bank Resident

“Hardly any fish floating past and the water no as dark as yesterday and the day before.”

 

Dr. Colin Young says the dead fish may not point to where the problem started. The source could be farther upstream. He explains that deeper, wider, and slower parts of the Belize River can trap pollutants and lower oxygen levels, creating deadly conditions for fish. With heavy agriculture in the area, Young says monitoring and enforcement are critical.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Colin Young, Ecologist

“Many years ago there was issues with a canal that was dug and the concerns that were raised about the fact that such a canal and the amount of water and sediments and fertilizers and so on that can go into the water, had the potential to negatively impact the environment. Subsequent to that story, which is now multiple years old, there has been other, canals that are moving sediments into the water.”

 

Residents like Sharon Robinson remain concerned, despite halting her use of the river as rising tides may cause the water to flow into her yard and potentially harm her animals or plants.

 

Sharon Robinson

“ Everybody have to worry because even though you see it low there, when it come up, if you see the water mark on the on the house iron, it come up, then it don’t cross the road in  our area, into this area. But a low section upriver have a low thing where it come in. Then when it come in, it come way in a my yard through the back.”

 

 

 

Dr. Young says development cannot come at the expense of the environment. He argues that Belize already has laws in place, but they must be enforced. Residents are now calling for a full investigation and accountability if pollution played a role. Britney Gordon for News Five.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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