The same government source said it also detected "many micro-algae," producers of biotoxins harmful to human consumption, in fish caught in the Bay of Luanda.
On August 5, the National Institute of Fisheries and Marine Research (INIPM) was notified by the command of the Maritime Fiscal Police of Ilha de Luanda about the occurrence of dead fish and change in water color.
In a statement made public this Thursday, the INIPM said that, following the analysis of water samples, it found a decrease in the minimum levels of oxygen in the water.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the record of weak winds in that period "made it difficult to mix the masses" which contributed to the "stagnation" aggravated by the reduction in oxygen levels in the sea.
According to the note, low concentrations of dissolved oxygen "altered the condition factor of the species, which in extreme cases such as that of 5 August, led to the death of fish by asphyxiation".
The INIPM also assured that, within its research programme, it will continue the environmental monitoring of the Bay of Luanda for the future, in collaboration with other entities, to establish an alert system.
