SEVERE DROUGHT CAUSES MASS FISH DIE-OFF IN MEXICO’S BUSTILLOS LAGOON

Mon 10 June 2024:

Thousands of dead fish have surfaced in Bustillos Lagoon, located in Mexico’s northern state of Chihuahua, due to an intense drought. Officials report that prolonged dry spells and temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) have drastically lowered the lagoon’s water levels.

Nearly 90% of Mexico is experiencing some form of drought, the highest rate since 2011. Chihuahua state is particularly affected, with most of its area under extreme dryness. Irma de la Pena, head of the Ecology Department in Cuauhtémoc, noted that reduced water levels have concentrated pollutants, harming aquatic life.

Past years have seen similar mass fish deaths in the lagoon due to drying conditions. Livestock, including cows and donkeys, are also dying as water sources diminish, forcing many agricultural workers to abandon the area. Jesus Maria Palacios, a livestock raiser, described the region as “very abandoned” due to the lack of rain.

Local authorities are urgently covering the dead fish with lime to prevent public health risks from decomposition, insects, and disease. They are seeking assistance from local organizations to address the potential health crisis, according to Saul Sausameda, president of the Anáhuac community.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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