Cause of New River fish kill discovered

The Department of the Environment has solved the mystery behind a fish kill in the New River in the Orange Walk district last week. Their investigation revealed that hundreds of fish died in the section of the river between New River Enterprises and the Trial Farm Creek when organic matter from the lumber mill’s compound was washed into the river by heavy rains. The organisms living in the piles of sawdust accumulated over the years used up the oxygen in the water and the fish suffocated. The department could not determine if the fish had been exposed to the chemicals used in the curing of the lumber. New River Enterprises is not being held criminally responsible since the leaching of the material into the river was not deliberate, but they will be given guidelines for the proper disposal of the material. A deadline will be set and the DOE will monitor the company for compliance. The DOE says New River Enterprises cooperated fully with their investigation and no other industry in the area contributed to the problem. The Department would like to warn the public that they should never eat any fish discovered during a fish kill until the investigation into the cause has been completed.