Dead fish at La Brea, Trinidad
Speaking by telephone yesterday, La Borde said although many people blame Petrotrin's oil spill in December 2013, the washing up of dead fish in La Brea has been going on long before that incident.
However, he said it had been increasing in recent times and it was becoming extremely worrying as they feared the gulf may be contaminated.
Yesterday, Point Sable, Carat Shed Beach and Coffee Beach were feasting grounds for corbeaux as carcasses littered the shoreline for miles. A few beachgoers who gathered at Carat Shed Beach said they dared not enter the water as they were not sure if the beach was safe.
La Borde said: "We're not pointing fingers at any particular individual or company but we must be mindful that there are a lot of companies operating around the Gulf of Paria.
"The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) stated that companies are not sending in their water samples as they ought too. I don't know whose fault it is but I believe if the EMA is in charge, they need to enforce the rules.
"Fish sales have not dropped but we need to be sure that fish that are being put on families' tables are safe to eat. We are looking at people bathing on the beaches and they can come into contact with whatever chemicals are killing the fish and that will create another problem.
"Dead fish washing ashore is something that was taking place long before the oil spill so it is not to say everything that has happened since is because of the spill.
"EMA has to collect the proper samples from companies in the Gulf of Paria and they need to investigate what is killing the fish. They need to be more stricter with the companies they gave certificates of environmental clearance to because some of them are doing what they want."
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