KUWAIT: Harmful bacteria caused fish kill recently in Kuwait Bay, the Environment Public Authority (EPA) said yesterday. The fish “are subject to environmental stress for several reasons, including the effect of sewage on specific shorelines” in Kuwait, EPA’s deputy director for technical affairs Mohammad Al-Enezi said at a press conference. He added that the dead fish were of the species locally known as ‘chem,’ noting that they were exposed to wastewater, industrial drainage or illegal encroachment. ‘Chem’ fish are similar to but not to be confused with the catfish, and is not favored for eating by bulk of the Kuwaitis.

On Sunday, Kuwait’s Public Authority of Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) announced that the perished fish phenomenon in the Arabian Gulf waters has diminished. A press release by PAAAFR said that sea surveillance conducted over the previous three days showed that no perished fish was found, noting that the fact that decomposed fish was found floating over the water surface indicated that this phenomenon was on the wane. — KUNA