MASS FISH DIE-OFF: DISASTER PRECURSORS

January 18, 2012 - UNITED STATES - Tens of thousands of dead fish washed ashore on a South Carolina beach on Tuesday, for at least the second time in a week. Approximately 30,000 to 40,000 menhaden fish washed ashore along a mile-and-a-half-long stretch of beach from Georgetown County, S.C., to Pawleys Island, said Pawleys Island Police Chief Michael Fanning, according to NBC News. It seemed likely that thousands more of the 6- to 8-inch-long fish would wash ashore later. 

Courtesy viewer Lisa Mahan.

This is the second time in one week such an incident has occurred in the area, notes NBC News. Late last week, hundreds of thousands of the small, oily fish washed up near Masonboro Island, N.C. "One time I was here I saw a bunch of jellyfish," South Carolina resident Bill Vogel told NBC local affiliate WMBF Newsof the dead fish. "They were all on the shore but nothing like this, it's really weird."  The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) tried to explain the fish die-off on Wednesday. "It's an occurrence called hypoxia," Sergeant Steve Pop told WMBF. "That is dissolved oxygen levels in the water that drop to a level that is not sustainable for the fish... 

We've got some deep holes off of north inlet that holds these fish. This time of year the fish congregate in these holes which is depleting the oxygen source." Mel Bell, Director of the Office of Fisheries Management for S.C. DNR, elaborated on the theory: “On Friday we had a new moon [which caused] real high high tides and real low low tides,” he told The Sun News. “Probably what happened was a school [of menhaden] got in an area of water on a high tide, in a hole or depression, and at low tide they were trapped and depleted the oxygen in the water. Then, all the fish would suffocate." On Thursday, however, the DNR ruled out low dissolved oxygen, algal bloom or cold temperatures as the culprit for the fish death, according to The Sun. 
Mass animal deaths made headlines back in 2011 when thousands of animals were found dead in countries around the world. The mass deaths continued into 2012. Hundreds of Humboldt squid beached themselves near Santa Cruz, Calif., in December. In September, dead seagulls and fish washed ashore on Lake Eerie.- Huffington Post.

WATCH: Mass fish die-off in South Carolina.

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December 16, 2012 - CHINA - "Seeing so many fish has no overnight, I do not know what to do. "Man achish in East Lake Village, lingshan town, pottery village in meilan district of Haikou has contracted several pond fish, December 10 shortly after 7 o'clock in the morning, he wakes to see fish ponds and found that, overnight, himself strenuously 8,200 grouper are all dead.

Tens Of Thousands Of Fish Found Dead In Haikou Lake.

According to reports, the achish trusted friends to lend more than 1 million Yuan last year, contracted for pond fish. This fish for over a year, has and traders 11th to buy an appointment. The night before the incident, he patrols the pond edge to home until 11 o'clock at night, when fish are good. Did not expect overnight, the fish all died, everything became a bubble in water, "a conservative estimate the loss more than 700,000 yuan. "Achish said sadly, this fish maximum 3 kg of 92, on average every two and a half pounds of fish, a total of 8,200 fish, more than 20,000 pounds, all gone. Looked at has been cleared of dead fish, achish heartache, "not all the fish stomach, it was too hard. "It is reported that after the incident, achish alert the local police station. It is understood that the incident occurred 20 days ago, achish contracted by another more than 30,000 pieces of fish in a pond in deaths overnight. Achish said, generally ten days and a half months, fish insect, need some medicine to pest control. After more than 30,000 pieces of fish for the first time, achish thought it was the fish master take the wrong drug, also called a master. Master fish, raise fish in a dozen years and have never come across such a situation, even if it is more than three times the amount of fish you can't all die. Because the first dead fish are smaller, so dead over more than 30,000 fish, achish had lost at least 350,000 yuan. According to preliminary estimates, the two add up to achish had lost more than 1 million Yuan. - People China [Translated].

Large Fish Kill Found In A River In Shahe City.

According to eyewitness accounts, the fish's small finger-like weight, there are three or four pounds. Estimation of Shahe office cleaning day sailor, salvaging of dead fish has nearly three days pounds. Wuyi University see Shahe journalists 10th day, the River is dark green, there are still sporadic dead fish scattered on the River, shore water floats, a layer of oil. Approached the River, a fish stench blowing, two cleaning vessels are salvaging of dead fish. Reporters along the rivers in Jiangmen direction Wuyi University section going, found no sewage outfall discharges across the Taiwan Strait, in which large outfall outfall Wuyi University canteens have also used iron CAP to seal up. For all of a sudden there were so many fish were killed, public speculation that someone may steal a sewage. This reporter learned that, after the dead fish incident, Jiangmen City Environmental Protection Department immediately started emergency plan, organized law enforcement and environmental monitoring environmental monitoring personnel to the scene for investigation and water quality monitoring. The site survey, found Shahe road section between bridge and white gas stations are dead fish behavior occurs to varying degrees. 

In this regard, the Organization immediately environmental protection departments on the one hand to troubleshoot the day sand river coastal outfalls, Shahe River in the urban areas has been basically pollution-cutting, only a limited number of outfalls vertical sand River through days of troubleshooting, found no illegal sewage of industrial enterprises. On the, in died fish phenomenon more clear of river set multiple section for water monitoring, December 7 of monitoring results indicates that, river water except dissolved oxygen indicators partial low outside, other pollutants indicators and always compared to and no exception; near two day of monitoring results indicates that, as temperatures of rebounded, river water dissolved oxygen indicators has gradually recovery to normal level, River sense views also has been comparison clear. At the same time, marine fisheries sector in Jiangmen city quickly investigate after receiving the report, organized the resources and Environment Management Division, fisheries technician, fishery law enforcement and inspection personnel to conduct on-site investigations. According to the Bureau's law enforcement personnel on-site observations, dead fish species dominated by DACE, and most of the smaller. According to EPA and Marine Fisheries Council two large sector investigation results displayed, "by extraction water, and died fish samples for test detection, found except river water dissolved oxygen partial low outside, remaining is not found detection indicators has exception situation, preliminary judgment is due to by continued low temperature rainy weather (more than 10 days) effect, while days Shahe and is dry season, water in the dissolved oxygen partial low, led to as DACE, and tilapia, does not cold varieties of fish hypoxia death. ” - Information Times [Translated].

Over 350,000 Pounds Of Fish Died In Long Lake.

Area of dead fish in the Lake area, causing huge economic losses to local fishermen. According to the local Government's latest figures show that the fish killed more than 350,000 pounds, including deaths peak in October 3, 7th night of dead fish began to gradually reduce. It is understood that the dead fish later, local government and related departments have taken emergency measures management, organizing manpower to emergency disinfection of fishing and bury the dead fish. Xiaolu is a journalist in the area ran into a bit of downstream fishermen. He is new to cage, cage culture of less than two years. Xiaolu describes his cage in the fen village section of the hole in the lower area, built dams built power stations here. The Wengjiang River and other tributaries converge here, formed a huge Lake. Therefore, this time he farmed fish were not spared, more losses than upstream. "Throughout the vast expanse of the Lake and a stinker, is simply horrible. "Little land so describes the horrors of dead fish peak at that time. "No dead fish, more or less, I probably nearly 6,000 pounds of fish in cages. My losses are relatively small, losses more serious cases than me! Hey, just my luck, it lost two years...... "battered small land face down, he stood in the bow looking confused water, his eyes are filled with confusion. "Now I don't know what should I do in the future, this fish can continue to do? I now have no confidence. But the fish we can do? "Very predicament inside Xiaolu told Xinhua that his father is a fisherman, culture before earning a bit of money, so they expand cage culture of investment in the area, he was responsible for management. A sudden hit Xiaolu negate efforts of father and son, but also completely destroy their confidence. 

It is understood that, in recent years, the rapid development of cage culture in the long Lake area, cage size and significant increase in the number and capacity in cages in the reservoir area is almost at saturation. According to the latest statistics from the local government data show, current cage culture in reservoirs there is approximately 180 households, more than 6,000 cage, deposit box fish probably around 4.5 million pounds. Xiaolu same part and many farmers, are shouted to the cage to make money and have acceded to or expansion of investment. Cage culture of sprawl and blindness makes area significantly increased risk. Yingde city animal husbandry and aquatic products Bureau told Xinhua, cage was farmers in the reservoir area of spontaneous, is difficult to control and master in number, only moderate to boot. However, the large area of abnormal fish mortality events, fishermen's losses are not just the fish in the cage, but also for many years has been adhere to breed confidence. - Shuichan [Translated].

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January 05, 2013 - UNITED STATES - An Oklahoma state park is dealing with a stinky mystery.  Dead fish have been showing up by the hundreds along the shore of the lake at Quartz Mountain State Park. 

Quartz Mountain fish dying – Alicia. KFOR.

Quartz Mountain fish dying – Alicia. KFOR.

Quartz Mountain fish dying – Alicia. KFOR.

Park officials said they’re not sure why or how the fish died but believe it is from natural causes, not something man-made.

The State Wildlife Department is planning to visit the park to conduct tests to see what is behind the die-off.

The lake remains open although it’s not exactly a good spot right now for a stroll beside the water. - KFOR.

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In what authorities believe is one of the worst fish-kills in recent times, a lot of Curiass is being washed up on the Guyanese and Surinamese foreshores, apparently due to murky Atlantic Ocean waters and the discharge of freshwater into the sea.

The Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture says mostly dead Cuirass have been sighted since January 9 and the situation peaked on January 29 when a "significant amount of dead fish was observed on the beaches in the area. Consultations with Surinamese Fisheries Department officials have revealed that similar occurrences of dead fish have been observed in the vicinity of Nickerie and Coronie during the same period, the ministry here stated. "An on-the-spot observation conducted by the Regional Fisheries Officer revealed that the gills were heavily coated with sling mud and slime. This condition may have resulted in oxygen deprivation to the fish resulting in death," Guyana's Fisheries Department added.

While the observance of dead fish is said to be an annual occurrence by local fisherfolk in both countries, Guyana's Fisheries Department believes that this year's was "noticeably worse" and may have resulted from one of or a combination of factors. They include turbidity of the water in the area – caused by excessive rainfall in the general region resulting in excessive cloudiness of the water due to suspended particles from the rivers which flow into the ocean and reduced dissolved oxygen levels. The other major factor could have been a high fresh water discharge – the high discharge of fresh water from the rivers may have disrupted the salinity content of the water in the area which could adversely affect fish in the area.

The University of Guyana's Biodiversity Centre is expected to conduct tests on samples collected on January 22 to determine the cause of death of the fish. Results will be available several weeks later. The Fisheries Department said it was also conducting continuous water quality tests to determine the effects of the rainfall on the water quality in the area. According to officials, the situation has improved greatly since Sunday January 22 and Wednesday, with far less dead fish observed on beaches along the Upper Corentyne Coast. "The situation is being continually monitored by staff of the Fisheries Department," the Agriculture Ministry department said. - The Daily Herald.

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The Ohio Division of Wildlife got a call on Sunday from a fisherman who told the agency they should probably come see the flood of fish carcasses in the Rocky River.

When they arrived, they discovered a waterway filled with dead aqua life. The fish kill is still under investigation. Today, the ODW announced the final death toll: 28,613 fish, along with other species. But the mere process of counting the dead was merely a first step. The interesting part, in terms of going after whoever was responsible for whatever caused the mass deaths (that's about as specific as we can get right now), comes next. 

Via the News-Herald:

“The investigators aren’t going back to the stream today because they believe they have all the data that they need,” said Jamey Graham, spokeswoman for the Wildlife Division’s District Three (Northeast Ohio) office in Akron. “They are now sorting the fish according to species and we should that information available soon.”

The reason for the separation of the fish by species is so that the Wildlife Division can determine how much to charge in fines and restitution if and when the culprit is identified. The state has assigned a dollar figure for each fish species.

- Yahoo.

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