What’s Killing the Fish?

Alabama Fairhope Hundreds of dead fish have been reported along the Eastern Shore.

by Jene' Young

Published: Fri, May 08, 2009 - 4:30 pm CST Last Updated: Fri, May 08, 2009 - 4:35 pm CST

Missy Thompson walks along the Daphne shoreline everyday and wants to know what is killing the fish.
"I've noticed more gators. I know it's time for gators to be out, but I don't know if they're coming up for an easy food source with all these rotten fish on the beach."
The rotten fish keep washing ashore, and biologists do not know why.

Chris Denson with the Alabama Marine Resources says, "Typically during the springs, we will see some fish with legions on them. It has the tendency to be due to fresh water input and change in salinity and temperatures. But usually not to this extent."
Denson has received reports of dead fish from Daphne to the Intracoastal Waterway. He said whatever this is... several hundred fish have died.
"This could be anything from a virus to bacterial infections, or even a fungus."

In 1996, thousands of catfish died over a period of a few months. The cause of death was never determined. This kill is not only affecting catfish, but other fish as well.

"We are seeing some fish come in with lesions or sores on their bodies. These fish have been taken up to Auburn to be tested."

For now, Thompson just wants to know what to do while walking along the beach.
"Just the safety of our kids, what it is, you know how the bacteria has spread. If it's a virus, how easily can it be transferred from the bottom of your shoe with our kids on the beach?"

If you see fish with red marks that look like rust spots, or lesions, do not eat them.
We'll let you know the results from testing as soon as they come in next week.

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framkly Says:

Sun, May 10, 2009 at 12:12 pm

MAWSS is killing the fish with all their sewage dumping. They don’t treat the sewage, they just dump it. The EPA and the United States Government has a lawsuit against them for dumping in the waterways.

ickthus Says:

Sat, May 09, 2009 at 10:55 am

thats not the corps, thats obamas sensus team. the obamanation told them he doesn’t care how they get ashore just count them.

concerned Says:

Sat, May 09, 2009 at 4:20 am

dont know who’s aware of this but the army corp of engineers has been on the shorelines “shocking” the water and killing the fish for at least 6 months now.

southfan1981 Says:

Fri, May 08, 2009 at 11:58 pm

Does anyone test our bay or waterways for the fertilizers GOOFY lawnowners or land owners with livestock send into the watershed? Here is a hint folks, either bank your lawn so that the runoff actually settles and percolates all that Stuff you insist on spreading or stop putting the chemicals on it. There is no such thing as throw away. That running water takes everything with it into our storm sewers. Does that make sense to anyone?