Dead fish, no clear cause: ERA investigates die-offs on eastern rim of North Malé Atoll

Parrotfish, butterfly fish, porcupine fish, emperors, octopus, anemone and even moray eels were among the marine life found dead in and around the Four Seasons resort, according to photos and videos taken by staff and circulated among divers and locals over the past week. Similar unreported sightings of dead fish have emerged from near Gili Lankanfushi and Cinnamon Dhonveli – both close to Kuda Huraa on the eastern rim of the atoll – and from a wreck site between Himmafushi and Gili Lankanfushi.

The reports prompted alarm among divers and marine biologists. Many expressed surprise over the sheer range of dead marine life observed. Speculated causes include low oxygen levels, the lagoon drying up at low tide, and chemical contamination from discarded waste. But no one seems to know for sure.

The most concerning reports came from Four Seasons Kuda Huraa. Resort workers as well as locals from the neighbouring island of Huraa told the Maldives Independent that dead fish were found near the resort's lagoon on May 5. Photos taken by resort staff show many different species lying still in the water and collected in buckets.

"The marine centre at the resort took it to investigate. The resort marine centre biologists reported it to the ERA," a staff member said. 

"Last week was foemathi [full moon phase], so on that [eastern] side lagoon, at low tide, the entire lagoon completely dried up. I think that's why the fish died. I didn't see it but I heard about it. No fish died on this island, it was at the resort," said an elderly man from Huraa.

The Maldives Independent understands that there were similar unreported incidents of dead fish in the water near Cinnamon Dhonveli and a wreck located between Himmafushi and Gili Lankanfushi resort.

Adam Ashraf, a dive course director with the Maldivian Academy of Diving in Himmafushi, said a group of people who went out to the wreck last week returned and informed him of dead fish.

"It's an area where the currents get stuck and waste will get stuck. So I think it's not fish that died there and floated up, I think it was brought there with the current," he said. 

Such unexplained fish kills are not unprecedented, according to Ashraf, who said they had happened before over the years.

The Environmental Regulatory Authority confirmed a report from near Kaafu Huraa on May 5. Rifath Naeem, an ERA director, said that the authority was looking into two separate "situations" based on the reports from recent days.

"The first report we received was that dead fish were found surrounding drifting garbage near Kuda Villingili. Among the waste were discarded tubs of pool cleaner, a chlorine-based chemical which had spilled and fish in the vicinity of this site had died," he said.

Rifath said this was a "localised" case that appeared to affect the fish in the general vicinity. "For this we informed authorities and marine police were deployed and found unleaked tubs of the chemical as well," he added.

"And then we received a second report about a week later about a second case of dead fish and marine life being found near Kuda Huraa on 5th May. From this site, the reports included many different species of fish and marine life including parrotfish and crabs. So far, this appears to be isolated from the first case, and likely caused by other factors, perhaps an algal bloom."

ERA conducted a field inspection last Thursday and was continuing tests and monitoring because of the number and different species of marine life affected. "We have not ruled out the two cases being connected entirely but so far it appears to be isolated cases," he said.