Some of the dolphins
The Nzema East Municipal Assembly has revealed that out of about 200 dolphins that were washed ashore at Axim last Sunday, about 132 of them are still with residents.
According to the assembly, the mammals were washed ashore alive and were about 200, but residents who were around at the time the fishes appeared, started to attack, killed and sent some home for domestic and commercial purposes.
A statement signed by the Nzema East Municipal Assembly Co-ordinating Director, Daniel Bentum Essel, said the assembly with the help of the BNI, Police, the Environmental Health Officer and Chief Fishermen are currently assisting in investigations to retrieve the remaining fishes sent home by some individuals.
The statement said the team retrieved 68 dolphins from the shore, and some in the custody of some residents, adding that 30 of the mammals were alive and 38 were dead.
It indicated that the team released the live dolphins back to the ocean and buried the dead ones at the assembly’s refuse disposal site.
“The remaining 132 are still in the hands of the residents,” the statement said.
To this end, the assembly has intensified its public education and sensitisation of the general public to desist from consuming the fishes washed ashore.
This is because the cause of death of the dolphins has not been established.
The statement advised the public to volunteer information on people in possession or selling fishes washed ashore to the relevant institutions for action to be taken against them.
“Those who by mistake have already consumed some of the fishes are therefore entreated to avail themselves for medical screening and treatment.
“This is to deal with any adverse medical conditions that may arise,” the statement pointed out.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi