What appears to be a tragic labeling mishap has killed about 400 fish at The Texas State Aquarium.
Last week, workers at the aquarium added a product called trichlorfon to a small tank of fish to treat common parasites. After no fish were harmed from the treatment, workers were given the green light to add the treatment to the aquarium’s two largest exhibits. But this time they took powder from a different container. Though it was labeled the same, the powder wasn’t trichlorfon — it was a highly toxic substance officials referred to as an “isomer of hydroquinone resorcinol.”
The other white powder is an industrial chemical used in film processing and as an additive in paint, fuels and cosmetics. The National Institute of Health has also called it a known carcinogen.
When workers returned the next day, around 400 fish, including the aquarium’s cherished tiger shark, had died. Other fish killed included tarpon, grouper, redfish and others.
According to local media, the aquarium’s large exhibits are now mostly empty — and many want answers about what went wrong.
During a press conference, the aquarium’s CEO said a company in Florida called Fishman Chemical had mislabeled and distributed the product. But it wasn’t clear if Fishman had manufactured the chemicals or simply sold it.
As the aquarium now works to clean up the exhibits, it is also focused on replacing the fish. As of Tuesday afternoon, many aquariums in the U.S. and one in Singapore had already offered to help by donating fish.
