A faulty pipe that caused 233,000 gallons of molasses to spill into Honolulu’s harbour Monday is killing fish and officials are stumped on how to remove the sticky mess from the sea, local media report.
The molasses was part of a 1,600 ton shipment bound for a Matson container ship, HawaiiNewsNow reported.
The dead fish first appeared Tuesday, and the Department of Health said there could be thousands of fish killed so far.
Unlike oil, which stays on top of the water and can be skimmed off, molasses sinks to the bottom, reef biologist Dave Gulko said.
“There’s no oxygen at depth so the animals that need it can’t get it and are suffocating,” he told the website.
A molasses spill isn’t harmful to humans directly, but because fish are being killed dangerous creatures including sharks could come closer to shore.
Matson hasn’t commented on spill, but the shipping outfit could face a fine of up to $25,000.
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