Mystery of dead fish at lake

May 1 2008 by Linda Elias, Cynon Valley Leader

Mystery of dead fish sparks contamination fears at park lake

A MAJOR investigation is underway to determine the cause of death of around 20 fish in the lake at a Cynon Valley park

The Environment Agency has been summoned to Aberdare Park in a bid to solve the mystery and officers have taken the fish away for testing.

Robert Rohan, a regular visitor to the park, spotted some 15 to 20 Carp floating near the edge of the boating lake and alerted Rhondda Cynon Taf Council.

“The carp are a major attraction in Aberdare Park and have been there for many years,” said 67-year-old Mr Rohan, of Laurel Close, Aberdare.

“It was a shocking and distressing to see that so many of them had died.”

Mr Rohan, who walks his dog in the park every day, said he was also concerned a large number of the surviving fish seemed to be congregating near the lake edge.

“This is unusual and I think the situation at the lake demands urgent attention,” he said.

Retired ambulance officer Michael Dowland, who walks in the park most days, said he feared the problem had been going on for several weeks.

“The water is contaminated to such a degree that it is void of oxygen and nothing can live in it,” he said.

“This situation is a disgrace in one of the best parks in our valley,” said 72-year-old Mr Dowland.

Dave Batten, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s head of leisure, parks and countryside, said: “A number of Carp in Aberdare Park Lake have died recently.

“Officers from the Environment Agency have taken away some fish for testing to establish what disease they have contracted.

”We are awaiting the results.”