Environmental activists have alleged on Wednesday that several tons of fish have died along a major river in Brazil due to illegal dumping of industrial waste.
An initial analysis suggests that between 10 and 20 tons of fish have died in the Piracicaba River in southeastern Brazil, according to Sao Paulo prosecutors.
Discharged Water Crossed Protected Area
The early investigation indicates an “irregular discharge of wastewater” from Estiva’s Sao Jose plant into the Piracicaba River.
The Piracicaba River crosses a protected area known as Tanqua, often called Sao Paulo’s mini-Pantanal, famous for its rich wildlife and stunning natural scenes, the AP reported.
Will Take Years For Environment To Recover
Adriano Queiroz, director of licensing at Sao Paulo’s environmental agency, said it would take years for the environment to recover in the region due to the severity of chemicals.
He emphasized that the number of fish killed and the variety of species affected means the impact on biodiversity is significant.
On Wednesday, the river was covered with floating fish corpses, stretching for miles, he said.
