Scientists from Germany, Israel and the US have arrived in Vietnam to help local authorities investigate the cause of mass fish deaths that have occurred in four central provinces since early April.

Minister Tran Hong Ha greets the scientists

On May 2, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha greeted many scientists who are experts in oceanographic, coastal geology, coastal engineering and environmental sustainability. The scientists expressed interest in the mass fish deaths and wanted to help Vietnam investigate and find the exact cause of the disaster.

Roberto Mayerle, director of the German Research and Technology Centre at University of Kiel, said they would continue to work with the Ministry of Science and Technology. If it is permitted, they will bring in more scientists and equipment to Vietnam.

Ha said the ministry wanted to create the best environment for the scientists to assess the activities at Vung Ang Industrial Zone and would co-operate to check on the coastal monitoring system.

On April 30, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment held an emergency meeting and announced the establishment of an inspection team with help from foreign experts. Both local and overseas organisations will provide independent evaluations on the water quality, waste treatment system and environment monitoring tasks. The team will start its investigation from May 5.

On May 1, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha said that based on the national standards for sea water quality, the sea water at beaches of the provinces were within permitted levels and claimed were totally safe for bathing.

Previously, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment claimed that there was insufficient evidence tying Formosa and other plants in the Vung Ang Economic Zones in Ha Tinh Province to the mass fish deaths after a closed meeting. The report claimed that mystery toxic substances and a harmful algal bloom or red tide were the causes.

The Vietnam Fisheries Association countered that there was no evidence to prove that the fish were killed by a red tide and urged the ministry to quickly work to determine the exact cause.