UNDIAGNOSED DIE OFF, FISH - USA: (MISSISSIPPI)
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Date: 6 Aug 2010
Source: WLOX.com [edited]
<http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=12934982>
Another fish kill fuels debate over what's causing wildlife deaths
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In all her years walking the Pass Christian beach, [a resident] said Thursday [5 Aug 2010] morning was different. "I've really never seen this many seagulls. I walked this beach for about 5 years and it's really phenomenal. It's beautiful to see, but it's unusual," said Alley.
It didn't take long to figure out what had attracted all the birds.
WLOX (Radio station for South Mississippi) saw massive dead fish on the beach and in the water, along with crabs and sting rays.
Department of Marine Resource (DMR) officials said it was the 3rd fish kill reported to them in recent months. DMR officials sent a team out to take samples from a fish kill, but they said they already had a good idea of what happened.
"When we see real warm water, which is what's happening, we have low oxygen conditions," said Joe Jewel, DMR Assistant Director. "That's what we're attributing to the fish kills that we're aware of right now. Warm water, low oxygen, that's what's causing these fish kills."
Two commercial fishermen told WLOX they don't believe the heat is enough to cause as many fish kills as we've been seeing in our area lately. They say it's just not normal. Instead, they blame chemical dispersants for robbing the water of oxygen.
Jewell said, "What is unusual is that we have the oil spill. We have a lot of citizens that are concerned about the oil. They're concerned about that relationship, but our scientists out there investigating these fish kills and the DEQ has scientists that are out there."
"They're taking water samples and oxygen samples and what we can determine right here at this point is that it's not related to the oil," said Jewell.
DMR officials continued to stress that their tests show the seafood is safe to eat and they will continue to run tests.
[Byline: Danielle Thomas]
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[It is unlikely at this point in time that the oil spill or the dispersants had anything to do with the fish kill. It is much more likely that there is red tide, or hot water causing the problem.
While it is difficult to believe that the water temperature of the ocean can change, it does, and the waters of the Gulf of Mexico are especially warm anyway. The Gulf region has been plagued this summer with extremely high temperatures and the normally warm water is even hotter than usual.
Hopefully the appropriate samples will get taken and disease will either be ruled in or ruled out. - Mod.TG]
[see also:
Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA: (CA) 20100805.2640 Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA (02): (MN) catfish 20100804.2630 Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA: (MN) catfish 20100731.2573 Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA: (NC) 20100728.2532 Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA: (PA, ID) corr. 20100718.2410 Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA: (PA, ID) corr. 20100718.2409 Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA (WA) natural causes 20100718.2408 Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA: (HI) puffer fish 20100716.2384 Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA: (PA, ID) 20100716.2373 Undiagnosed fish die-off - USA: (MI) RFI 20100618.2056 Undiagnosed fish die-off - USA (02): (WV, OH, PA) olumnaris 20100610.1946 Undiagnosed fish die-off - USA: (WV, OH, PA) 20100601.1827 Undiagnosed fish die-off - USA: (NJ) koi herpesvirus susp. 20100528.1773 Undiagnosed die-off, fish - USA: (NY), viral hem. septicemia susp. 20100519.1649] ....................sb/tg/ejp/mpp
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