Earth Protect Blog

Millions of dead fish washed up in King Harbor in Redondo Beach, Calif., on Monday, and authorities brought in skimmers and bulldozers to remove them. The dead sardines, anchovies and mackerel were so abundant, they formed a 12- to 18-inch layer on the harbor floor. The dead fish clean-up has cost $100,000 so far.

Evidence to date suggests the King Harbor fish kill was the result of oxygen deprivation, not poisoning or chemical contamination. SEA lab director Brent Scheiwe told KTLA, "[The fish] like to follow each other and it only takes one to come in before the others follow."

Scheiwe said the oxygen deprivation may have been exacerbated by two factors, algae and, once the fish deaths started, bacteria feeding on the dead fish.

The washing up of millions of dead fish, while unusual is not unprecedented.

Arkansas River Fish Kill

In January, a massive fish kill occurred in northwestern Arkansas, plastering the Arkansas River with 83,000. Drum fish, yellow bass, white bass, bluegill, sauger were the victims. A smaller fish kill affecting drum fish occurred weeks later, felling another 500.

The cause of the fish kills is unknown and will probably never be known, but Arkansas's Game and Fish Commission testing ruled out disease, parasites and toxins.

The Arkansas River fish kills followed on the heels of a New Year's Eve rain of some 3,000 redwing blackbirds in Beebe, initially creating consternation as to the cause. Authorities ultimately attributed the blackbird deaths to fireworks.

Louisiana's September Fish Kill

In September, a major fish kill occurred in Plaquemines Parish, La. Left hundreds of thousands of dead fish floating in Bayou Chaland. The primary species involved were redfish, trout and flounder. After the fish kill, the World Fishing Network said the Bayou looked more like a gravel road than a once-healthy fishery.

Fish kills are a seasonal occurrence triggered by heat, WFN said, but with the British Petroleum oil spill so recent, residents questioned whether oil pollution played a role. Wildlife and Fisheries officials attributed the kill to low oxygen levels, and said the BP oil spill was not responsible.

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-redondo-beach-dead-fish,0,2760912.story