In a mysterious turn of events, residents of Boyapadu village in Anakapalli district witnessed tens of thousands of dead fish – primarily a local variety known as ‘Kara’ – washed ashore on a 1.5-km stretch of the village's coastline on Saturday evening, triggering concerns among the local fishing community. The Incident led the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) to launch an investigation into the matter.

Pointing out the recurring impact of industrial activity on coastal livelihoods, Arjili Dasu, Executive Director of the District Fishermen’s Youth Welfare Association and a prominent advocate for fisherfolk, questioned the lack of preventive measures.

“The ocean is the lifeline for our community, yet we repeatedly witness such tragic sights,” Mr. Dasu said. “We demand a transparent inquiry. Authorities must look beyond immediate explanations and address the cumulative impact of industrial discharge on our marine ecosystem. If the marine environment is not protected, the very survival of the traditional fishing community is at stake.”

Expert inquiry under way

Following an urgent meeting led by the Chairman of the APPCB, officials are working to determine the cause of death. Dr. Joe K. Kizhakudan, Principal Scientist at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), provided a preliminary assessment suggesting that the sudden die-off was likely triggered by anoxic conditions – a severe depletion of dissolved oxygen in the coastal waters.

The board has ordered a comprehensive scientific investigation. The CMFRI, along with experts from the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) and Andhra University, have been tasked with conducting a detailed analysis.

P. Srinivasa Rao, Environmental Engineer (EE), and Gopi Sirish, Junior Scientific Officer (JSO), who were in the Atchutapuram area, were immediately dispatched to the site to conduct a field inspection and collect samples.

The EE from the Regional Office, Visakhapatnam, is also coordinating with the Deputy Director of Fisheries, Anakapalli, to track the extent of the damage.

While APPCB officials noted that there has been no reported marine discharge from the nearby industry over the last 48 hours, the broader community remains wary. Environmental observers note that the incident underscores the urgent need for stricter monitoring of coastal industrial discharges to prevent the sacrifice of the delicate marine biodiversity of the Andhra coast for industrial expansion.

The APPCB officials informed that the findings of the scientific investigation will be made once the laboratory reports are finalised.

Speaking to The Hindu, APPCB Environmental Engineer P.V. Mukunda Rao said, “The laboratory reports and also the post-mortem report of the fish may mostly be reached within a week. CMFRI is conducting the post-mortem of the fish.”