Marine deaths in the Johor Straits (Mar - May 2016)

A dugong was found dead in West Johor Strait on 5 May. In Singapore, dead fishes and poor water quality have been observed sporadically in March-May 2016.

Photo from AsiaOne attributed to The Star.

Here's a compilation of some of these issues.


Malaysia: Second dugong found dead in Johor
The Star 9 May 16;

GELANG PATAH: The carcass of a young dugong was found floating in the sea near Kampung Pendas Laut here after getting caught in a fishing net.

click on image for larger view.

Fishermen spotted two dugong, believed to be a mother and its kid, on Thursday.

A few hours later, the carcass of a young dugong emerged and was spotted floating in the sea.

A fisherman from the village, Azman Adan, said the dugong was found floating near a mega development project.

“The dugong, weighing about 60kg, was already dead, so the fishermen brought the carcass back to shore.

“We immediately alerted the Fisheries Department and handed the carcass to them,” he said.

State Fisheries Department director Zamani Omar said that a team of officers went to the location after being informed of the sighting.

“The dugong suffered injuries after it got caught between some fishing nets.

“We will conduct a post-mortem first,” he added.

This is the second dead dugong sighting this year after the first carcass was found washed ashore at Pantai Tanjung Logok, near Kota Tinggi in February.


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In Mar 2016, it was reported that 100 tonnes of fish worth RM4mil were wiped out in fish farms in Pulau Kukup in Johor. Marine Fish Farmers Association deputy president Mohamed Razali Mohamed said the hot weather had encouraged algae to bloom in the shallow water, pushing up fish mortality.

Kukup Johor is located in the Malacca Strait.