{"id":2671,"date":"2022-04-21T18:36:13","date_gmt":"2022-04-21T17:36:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/?p=2671"},"modified":"2022-04-22T08:02:45","modified_gmt":"2022-04-22T07:02:45","slug":"fish-deaths-in-anosy-following-qmm-mine-water-release-probable-cause","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/?p=2671","title":{"rendered":"FISH DEATHS IN ANOSY FOLLOWING QMM MINE WATER RELEASE : PROBABLE CAUSE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"http:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/275953767_668691097670285_1090732525073738984_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2251\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/275953767_668691097670285_1090732525073738984_n.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/275953767_668691097670285_1090732525073738984_n-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Trust has been monitoring closely <a href=\"http:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/?p=2238\">the events in Anosy region<\/a> following the QMM mine tailings dam failures at Mandena in February and March, and the appearance of dead fish in the lake following the second overspill incident and an \u201cexceptional\u201d release of QMM mine process water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr Swanson, who carried out an <a href=\"http:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/SWANSON-Radioactivity-Review-Revised-December-2019-.pdf\">independent radioactivity review<\/a> of QMM mine in 2019,  has reviewed the available data, from recent sampling as well as from a previous study when similar events occurred (dead fish in the lake following a QMM overflow in 2018 ), and produced a Memo to explain the probable cause of fish deaths: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-background has-vivid-red-color has-very-light-gray-background-color\"><strong>SEE SWANSON  MEMO ON FISH DEATHS &#8211;  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Swanson-memo-to-ALT-UK-20-April-2022-Probable-cause-of-fish-kills-.pdf\">Cause of Fish Kills After QMM Water Releases<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background has-text-align-center has-very-light-gray-background-color\">&#8220;<strong><em>The combination of acidic water and elevated aluminium in the water released from the QMM site is the most probable connection between the water releases and the fish kills observed after those releases.<\/em><\/strong>&#8221; Swanson Memo, 20 April 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/dead-fish-incident--1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2745\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/dead-fish-incident--1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/dead-fish-incident--300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/dead-fish-incident--768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/dead-fish-incident-.jpeg 1040w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Although water testing was carried out by the authorities shortly after the dead fish appeared in Lake Ambavarano, the first reports were unable<a href=\"http:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/SWANSON-MEMO-re-WATER-REPORTS-on-QMM-RELEASES-April-4-2022.pdf\"> to deliver a satisfactory explanation for the fish deaths<\/a>, according to Dr Swanson.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While investigations are ongoing, the Governor of Anosy has imposed a fishing ban, which is exacerbating hardships and losses that <a href=\"https:\/\/theecologist.org\/2021\/nov\/24\/fishfolk-protest-rio-tinto-mine\">fisherfolk have experienced<\/a> since the arrival of the mine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"http:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/DSC_0549-1024x681.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2688\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/DSC_0549-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/DSC_0549-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/DSC_0549-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/DSC_0549-1536x1021.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/DSC_0549-2048x1362.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>According to an announcement made locally, the state plans to construct its own laboratory in Anosy to assist water monitoring exercises.  Meanwhile,  Dr Swanson has provided a Memo to suggest actions that could assist those monitoring the immediate situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-background has-vivid-red-color has-very-light-gray-background-color\"><strong>SEE SWANSON MEMO ON<\/strong> :<strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Swanson-memo-to-ALT-UK-re-near-term-actions-and-responses-to-QMM-releases-V3-April-20.pdf\">Near Term Actions Regarding the QMM Release<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We are releasing this information to assist local communities, civil society and Malagasy stakeholders to engage in an  informed and meaningful way on these issues, and to support current and future monitoring exercises. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"http:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/signal-2022-04-20-193132_006.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2692\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/signal-2022-04-20-193132_006.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/signal-2022-04-20-193132_006-300x169.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Trust  encourages open and transparent sharing of data and debate  and supports Malagasy civil society in its role to promote and protect citizen&#8217;s rights to information and freedom of speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-background has-vivid-red-color has-very-light-gray-background-color\"><strong>For further information about Aluminium see<\/strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Aluminum-Infomration.pdf\"><strong>HERE <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-background has-vivid-red-color has-very-light-gray-background-color\"><strong>For further information and studies,  visit the main website of the  Andrew Lees Trust <a href=\"http:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/studies_and_reports.html\">HERE <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Trust has been monitoring closely the events in Anosy region following the QMM mine tailings dam failures at Mandena in February and March, and the appearance of dead fish in the lake following the second overspill incident and an &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/?p=2671\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2671"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2671"}],"version-history":[{"count":73,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2671\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2762,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2671\/revisions\/2762"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2671"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2671"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewleestrust.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2671"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}