Health warning issued after mass fish deaths in Mae Hong Son streams

Residents in Pang Mapha district of Mae Hong Son province have been advised not to eat dead Blue Mahseer fish (Neolissochilus stracheyi) found floating in local waterways, as an investigation gets under way into the cause of a mass fish die-off in the Lang and Mae U-mong streams.

Harit Chanthong, chief of the Nam Pai Wildlife Sanctuary in the province, said he had been informed by the abbot of Pha Mon Temple in Pang Mapha district that a number of Blue Mahseer, which had been thriving in streams and waterfalls, were found dead in a stream at Pha Mon Cave on February 28.

“Between 10 and 15 Blue Mahseer and snakehead fish were found dead and floating on the surface of the stream each day,” he said, quoting the abbot, adding that more dead fish have since been discovered in natural waterways across the district.

Samples of the dead fish have been sent to the provincial fisheries office for laboratory testing.

Meanwhile, the district health office has issued an advisory warning residents not to eat the dead fish. It has also been reported that some birds, including pigeons, were found dead after drinking water from the streams.