The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform is investigating the deaths of fish found offshore and along the coastline at Henties Bay.
Residents of Henties Bay woke up on Wednesday morning to find dead fish scattered along the beach.
Images of the fish have since circulated, raising questions about what caused the deaths.
On Thursday, the ministry confirmed that it had collected samples for testing to determine what caused the fish deaths, which species were affected and how widespread the deaths are.
Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda says it is too early to determine what caused the deaths as the test results are not yet available.
“At this stage, however, it would be premature to speculate on the cause or extent of the reported fish mortalities before the appropriate scientific assessments have been conducted,” he says.
Muyunda says the ministry is working with relevant authorities and stakeholders and is monitoring affected areas along the coast.
“The public is also advised not to consume the dead fish for health risks,” Muyunda says.
He urges the public not to spread unverified information about what caused the fish deaths while the investigation continues.
This comes after the Municipality of Henties Bay on Wednesday warned residents not to eat or sell fish collected from the sea until tests confirm whether they are safe for human consumption.
Acting chief executive Ignasia Neis says the warning was a precaution while authorities investigate the matter.
“The Municipality of Henties Bay hereby informs and strongly advises the public not to consume any fish collected from the sea until further notice,” Neis says.
She urges residents to take the warning seriously.
“This precautionary measure is being taken while the relevant ministry officials conduct investigations and await the results of the necessary tests to determine whether the fish is safe for human consumption.”
