Mass Fish Kill in Samut Sakhon Canal Prompts Probe
Mass fish kill at a Samut Sakhon canal drainage gate prompts investigation as officials collect samples and warn against consuming distressed fish.
On November 10, Samut Sakhon fisheries chief Phedim Rodin, accompanied by Suphap Si-chan, head of the provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office, Ban Ko subdistrict chief Suchip Khongsin, local health officials, community leaders, and other stakeholders, inspected the mass fish die-off at the Khlong Heng Neramit drainage gate in Moo 8, Ban Ko subdistrict, Mueang district, Samut Sakhon. Dead fish of various species — blackchin tilapia, snakehead, climbing perch, and Nile tilapia — were found accumulated in large numbers, estimated to have been dead for four to five days, creating a severe stench that spread throughout the area and caused anxiety among residents living and working near the canal.
Officials collected water and fish samples for laboratory analysis to pinpoint the exact cause of death. Meanwhile, the Ban Ko Subdistrict Administrative Organization deployed crews to remove garbage and fish carcasses from the waterway to reduce decomposition, mitigate the odor nuisance, and lower public health risks.
Suphap Si-chan advised anyone encountering live but distressed fish in the canal to avoid catching them for consumption, as the cause remains undetermined and the possibility of hazardous contamination cannot yet be ruled out. The warning stands until test results provide clear confirmation.
Vendors at a nearby flea market reported seeing dead fish drifting down the canal since Sunday, converging in unusually high numbers at the drainage gate compared with previous years. While isolated fish deaths have occurred in the past, never have they been on this scale, and they urged agencies to accelerate the removal of carcasses from the water source.
