Authorities in eastern China have said they will release 20
million algae-eating fish into one of the nation's most scenic
lakes that has been ravaged by pollution. Taihu Lake, which
straddles Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces, has been severely
polluted by sewage as well as industrial and agricultural waste,
triggering a blue-green algae plague. Authorities started using
fish to try to clean up the lake in February last year when they
released 10 million mostly green and silver carp into the water,
after the algae tainted the drinking supply of millions of
residents. Over the next few days, around 20 million more algae-
eating fish will be released into the water, the Taihu Lake
Fisheries Management Committee said in a statement Monday. The
campaign, funded by the government and public donations, cost a
total of 8.6 million yuan (1.3 million dollars), according to
the statement. A silver carp can consume 50 kilogrammes (110
pounds) of algae and other plankton in its lifetime while
gaining only one kilogramme in