Mystery Behind Mass Fish Deaths at Marina East Shore; No Pollution Found

On December 6 and 7, a local resident in Singapore, identified as Mr. Huang, discovered dozens of dead fish along the shore of Marina East Drive, sparking concerns over potential water contamination. Huang, who was heading out to photograph birds, noticed the fish of various sizes, some floating in the water while others were found on the rocks along the shore. Disturbed by the sight, he remarked on the foul smell and the fact that the fish had been there for two days without being consumed by scavengers, which led him to question the water quality in the area.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) responded to the incident after receiving reports about the fish deaths. Investigations conducted on December 9 found no evidence of pollutive discharge, such as from nearby industrial facilities or construction sites. Additionally, operators of commercial establishments along the shoreline reported that no similar fish kills had been observed in the area. NEA’s clean-up team removed about 20 dead fish from the site, which were later identified as tilapia—typically a freshwater species.

Although tilapia can survive in brackish waters, the NEA suggested that rapid fluctuations in salinity could have been a contributing factor to the deaths. Fish in brackish or freshwater environments are particularly vulnerable to sudden changes in water salinity, which can be lethal if their bodies cannot adapt quickly enough.

This discovery at Marina East followed a similar incident on December 4, when 200 dead fish were found in a canal along Marina South Drive. During investigations, the NEA found no visible signs of pollution in the water, such as oil or unusual odours. However, tests revealed that the water had high salinity levels, likely due to seawater intrusion during high tide. The agency noted that such high salinity could cause freshwater fish to suffer dehydration and die.