Massive Fish Die-off Reported in Brevard County, Florida

Tens of thousands of dead fish rotting on Brevard County beaches

The dead fish were first spotted on Wednesday in Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach, but have since spread further along Brevard County and continue to wash ashore, said a report.

A Brevard County commissioner, Trudie Infantini, wants the county commission to declare a state of emergency over the fish kill in the Indian River Lagoon.

“This is truly a statewide problem for the health and safety of the public,” she said.

She is also concerned that the water may be unsafe for people.

“Until we know [what cause the fish kill,] do you want one of your kids swimming in the lagoon?” she asked.

Related Links

• Fish kill should be declared ‘state of emergency’ —Brevard County commissioner [WFTV]
• Residents and biologists concerned about major fish kill in the Indian River Lagoon [WFTV]
• Chain gang joins effort to remove thousands of dead, rotting fish [WFTV]
• Harmful algae could be responsible for large fish kills  [WFTV]

• Die-off of Large Whales Continues in Gulf of Alaska Posted on October 1, 2015
• Mass Fish Die-off in Lake Cajititlan, Mexico Posted on August 19, 2015
• Fish Die-off in Nevada Lake  Posted on January 17, 2014
• “Spooky” Disease Turning Starfish to “Slime” Posted on November 5, 2013
• Mass Die-off of Wild Shrimp Off SE Atlantic Coast  Posted on November 4, 2013
• Fracking Fluid Likely Killed Threatened Kentucky Fish: USGS  Posted on August 30, 2013
• Fish Mass Die-off Near Galveston, Texas Posted on August 14, 2012
• Dead Fish Cover 60-mile Stretch of Louisiana’s Pearl River Posted on August 23, 2011
• Red Tide Kills Millions of Fish Along Texas Coast  Posted on November 4, 2011

Fish Die-off in Nevada Lake

100,000 Fish die in Helms Lake, Sparks, NV

As many as 100,000 bass, catfish and trout have died since mid-December in Helms Lake, a man-made 77-acre stocked fishery located in Sparks Marina Park, a popular recreation complex near Reno, Nevada.

State and wildlife officials are baffled as to what caused the unprecedented die-off, revealing that low oxygen levels in the water had killed about 3,000 fish in one area of the reservoir in December.

State biologists say the drop in oxygen levels may have been caused by a recent cold snap stirring low-oxygen waters.

“We’re seeing oxygen levels that are totally lethal to fish,” said Nevada Department of Wildlife spokesperson Chris Healy.

“Fish gain oxygen from water cycling across their gills and suffocate when oxygen concentrations dip below a certain level. Many types of fish struggle or die when oxygen is below 5 parts per million. Sampling of water across the lake has shown so-called dissolved oxygen as low as 1.1 parts per million,” reported Reuters  citing Healy.

Water Quality

However, Sparks Marina says its lake is continuously recharged with fresh, filtered water from an underground aquifer, and that the recharging process, which is similar to an artesian well, produces a water quality that exceeds the EPA standards for recreational use.

Helms Lake, a 77-acre man-made lake in Sparks Marina Park, Sparks, a city located east of Reno, NV, contains an estimated 1 billion gallons of water with a naturally occurring aquifer that replenishes the lake with 2 to 3 million gallons of fresh water daily. The lake has an average depth of 60 feet, with the deepest point being approximately 120 feet. The average temperature in the deepest parts is in the 40’s all year around, while the shallow areas will heat into the 70’s during the hot summer months, according to the park’s website.