Four and a half million Fresh Catch might starve to death

There is an update to the story of Fresh Catch, the company that was placed in receivership by FirstCaribbean Bank. There is grave concern tonight by employees of the tilapia farm over what appears to be an imminent environmental disaster that threatens to wipe out a substantial amount of tilapia fish at the company’s farm in La Democracia.  Since going into receivership on July twenty-first employees have complained that the company’s new owners, stationed in Barbados, have not purchased the necessary feed for the estimated four and a half million fish being raised on the site.  According to one source, the company has placed an order for feed from a producer in Guatemala but the kind being bought can only be eaten by the half million adult tilapia. That leaves the remaining four million adolescent and fingerling fish without the appropriate fodder needed for growth.  The fear is that if starvation or an ammonia buildup from uneaten feed leads to a fish kill the impact would be catastrophic. It is not known much longer the fish can survive without being fed. The proximity of the farm to the nearby river may also cause severe contamination in the event of a spillover. Fresh Catch Belize Ltd. is one of two companies belonging to the Mena Group which was recently placed under receivership.  We will have more on this story in tomorrow’s newscast.