Millions Of Larval Crabs Washing Up In South African Dieoff - IOL

[hatrack]

Marine and coastal management scientists are investigating the cause of death of millions of larval crabs that washed up along the Table Bay coastline for the past two weeks.

The death of the tiny crabs is, at this stage, not thought to be related to the death of more than 80 tons of fish in Rietvlei, near Table View, according to city spokesperson Pieter Cronje. The fish are believed to have died because of a severe drop in oxygen levels caused by a lethal build-up of nutrients in the vlei.

EDIT

"We always used to go and collect prawns in the lagoon area, but they have disappeared. The high level of nitrates caused by human activities is killing our marine life in our estuaries." Cape Town has only two functioning estuaries: Rietvlei and Zandvlei.

Pedro Goosen, a senior Marine and Coastal Management official confirmed he had sent inspectors to Oceana Power Boat Club and they had collected samples for scientific analysis. "We have not had a report-back yet so at this stage we cannot say why these organisms died."

EDIT/END

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=14&art_id=vn20061231100820921C244632

[kestrel91316]

1. I wonder if the nutrients are building up because the decreasing ocean pH

has killed off organisms that convert "nutrients" into living things and send it on down the food chain..............

[Oerdin]

2. More likely...

It's caused by untreated sewage discharged into the ocean. South Africa is the wealthest country in sub-sahara Africa but the vast majority of its population still live a very 3rd world style life. Sewage treatment plants are a luxury which are mainly found in rich countries.

[kestrel91316]

3. Compost bucket toilets (or even "dirt" bucket toilets) a la

The Humanure Handbook would be a cheap, logical, environmentally appropriate solution. But that would make too much sense.

Better we should all poop into drinking-quality treated water.