MITIGATING AND CLEAN-UP MEASURES BEING PUT IN PLACE.
PUBLIC URGED NOT TO CONSUME
Based on ongoing weather conditions the island has been experiencing and based on water quality sampling conducted by the St. Maarten Nature Foundation it has been decided to issue an alert concerning the medium to high potential for a Tilapia fish die off in the Great Salt Pond.
The Nature Foundation has tested the water quality in the Great Salt Pond and has measured a decrease in oxygen levels and an increase in salinity due to the ongoing weather conditions. These factors coupled with the large amount of introduced and invasive tilapia in the Great Salt Pond have made conditions favorable for a tilapia die-off event.
The Nature Foundation has sent its recommendations to the necessary governmental departments and will continue to monitor the situation as it develops. As of TUESDAY, June 3rd there have been some dead tilapia recorded in the University of St. Maarten area.
The Nature Foundation is cooperating closely with the VROMI MInistry on this matter
The Nature Foundation will issue updates as the situation develops