Thousands of dead fish found floating at sea after algal bloom near Teluk Bahang

GEORGE TOWN: Thousands of dead fish have been reportedly washed ashore in Teluk Bahang here, worrying beach goers and fishermen.

A homestay operator who only wished to be known as Atan, 65, said about 20kg of fish were found dead in his pond on Saturday (Aug 26) before finding out that there were more lying lifelessly along the coastline.

"At first, I thought the water in my pond was poisoned, but a fisherman later told me that thousands of dead fish had been found floating at sea nearby.

"This is the first time such an incident has occurred in about 20 years of operating the business here," he said.

It is believed that the recent bloom of pink algae to be the culprit behind the death of fishes which spanned from Teluk Bahang to Teluk Kampi.

On Sunday (Aug 27), Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (Cemacs) deputy director Dr Annette Jaya Ram spotted the pink tide in Teluk Bahang while walking at the National Park.

She glanced over at the beach and it was visible enough to see from where she was standing.

"When it rains you get nutrients that enter the sea.

"It was close to the coast and large enough to be visible.

"Algae or plankton thrive on it and that is when you get to see it bloom like this," she said.