Mass death of fish at farm in Lapland
Limewash discharge possible cause
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A large number of fish - amounting to around 16 tons - were found dead in an open tank at a fish farm in Kemijärvi in Finnish Lapland late on Wednesday evening.
The fish were farmed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and another fish of the salmon family, the powan or European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus).
Officials are uncertain as yet what may have killed the fish, or whether other tanks on the farm may have been similarly affected.
A surface coating of white foam was present on the water, and the gills of the dead fish had turned brown. An outflow pipe directed the foam towards the Kemijoki River, but rescue service personnel blocked the spread of the foam with booms.
Environmental authorities are expected on site this morning to gauge the scale of the loss and investigate the possible cause of the mass deaths.
One suggestion currently being put forward for the apparently localised accident is that it may have been caused by a limewash discharge. According to the local fire chief attending the scene, thus far at least there is no reason to suspect foul play or vandalism.
Helsingin Sanomat
