Public advised against buying fish from Rio Cobre

This follows confirmation from the St. Catherine Health Department that there was a discharge or release of industrial waste into tributaries connected to the parish’s river on Sunday August 1, 2021.

“The discharge has reached and contaminated the Rio Cobre River and different types of dead fishes have been seen floating in the river at different sections in the water including at Kent Village, Flat Bridge, Damhead and other points along the river,” a statement from South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA). “It has been reported that dead fish have also been seen in the canal at Rivoli and other areas in Spanish Town.”

As such SERHA is advising the public to “be careful at this time where they purchase fish and fish from the Rio Cobre area should not be eaten as it is unsafe to do so.”

The regional health body added: “The public is also being advised that it is unsafe to consume water for domestic purposes from the area. The National Water Commission and National Irrigation Commission have closed their intakes so that the contaminated water has not been received.”

The health department said it will continue to monitor the situation and the public will be advised when cleanup and remedial work at the river are complete and when it is safe to utilize the water and consume fish from the area.