ACCRA, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The incidents of dead fish and live dolphins that were washed ashore at different places along the coast of Ghana were due to low oxygen concentration in the ocean, marine scientists said in a preliminary report.
Researchers at the Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences at the University of Ghana, Legon, said in a release late Sunday that the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), which was significantly higher than expected probably due to low oxygen concentration on the ocean bed leading to the incidents.
"Results from water quality analyses showed that most parameters required for life in the ocean were within acceptable limits, except COD, which was significantly higher than expected," the statement said.
It added that "this oxygen demand would most likely create a condition of stress on living organisms that depend on dissolved oxygen in the water body."
"We confirm the identification of the marine mammals found along the coast as the melon-headed whale, a dolphin belonging to the Cetacean order," the scientists added.
The Nzema-East Municipal Assembly in the Western region reported last Thursday that about 200 live dolphins were washed ashore. Similarly, about 20 tons of dead fish were washed ashore the coast in the capital in the same period. Enditem
