Toxic oscillatoria behind fish kill in temple pond: experts

The excessive growth of oscillatoria, a toxic, is behind the fish kill in the pond of famous Sri Krishna Temple in Ambalappuzha in Alappuzha district, according to experts.
A team of scientists from Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), who conducted the study about the fish kill, has said content of the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) in the water plummeted following the uncontrolled growth of algal blooms in the pond.
The water analysis test conducted by the experts revealed that a number of 130000 oscillatoria were found in one millilitre water, the university said in a release.
"The excess of nutrient content in the water and lack of water circulation caused the growth of algal blooms. The DO is being reduced during the early hours."

"The oscillatoria is highly toxic and the presence of which is dangerous to fish species. The water in the temple pond has high amount of the bluish green algae," the experts observed.
The water inside the pond should be changed to control the issue, they suggested.
Swapna P Antony, Linoy Libini and Binu Varghese from School of Aquaculture and Biotechnology of KUFOS are the scientists who visited the spot and conducted the water analysis test, the release said.
Fisheries Deputy Director S Mahesh was also present during the visit.