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| Dead Fish |
In May, millions of fish died suddenly in the Haranggaol Bay of Lake Toba, Indonesia's largest lake.
Scientists chalked it up to a sudden depletion of oxygen in the water, the result of a buildup of pollutants in the lake, unfavorable weather conditions and unsustainable practices by local aquafarmers.
The local economy was badly shaken by the incident. Most residents of Haranggaol village rely on the fish farms as their only dependable source of income.
Many villagers have had to go into debt to keep their businesses from collapsing.
Haranggaol residents have since tried to modify their practices to prevent another die-off, but without the resources and know-how of the lake's corporate aquafarmers, they have had a difficult time.
Meanwhile, the government has big plans for Lake Toba as a tourist destination along the lines of a "Monaco of Asia" one that might not include the unsightly fish farms.
*** Story from Mongabay Weekly Newsletter
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