'Very large' fish kill reported in bay

The Baltimore Sun ^ | January 4, 2011 | Timothy B. Wheeler

[Pinkbell]

State officials say they are investigating a "very large" fish kill in the Chesapeake Bay, but suspect cold temperatures killed them, rather than any water-quality problems.

An estimated 2 million fish have been reported dead from the Bay Bridge south to Tangier Sound, according to the Maryland Department of the Environment, which investigates fish kills. The dead fish are primarily adult spot, with some juvenile croakers.

Agency spokeswoman Dawn Stoltzfus said bay water quality appears acceptable, and biologists believe "cold-water stress" the likely cause of the fish kill. Spot are susceptible to colder water, she said, and normally leave the upper bay by now. Water temperatures plummeted in late December to near-record lows for that time of year, about 36 degrees. The average air temperature last month was 32.4 degrees, 4.3 degrees below normal, and reached 16 degrees at its lowest, according to the National Weather Service.

Large winter kills of spot have been documented at least twice before, the MDE spokeswoman said, with about 15 million dying in early 1976 and a smaller number in 1980. Anyone wanting to report seeing dead fish can call 1-800-MDE-GOTO.

[Pinkbell]

So, to clarify, we have:

First Birds Fall, Now 100,000 Fish Dead in Arkansas
http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/03/first-birds-fall-now-100-000-fish-dead-in-arkansas/?icid=main%7Chp-desktop%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk1%7C193294

Thousands Of Fish Dead In Spruce Creek (Florida)
http://www.wftv.com/news/26367953/detail.html

Woman reports dozens of dead birds in her yard (Kentucky)
http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/local/Woman-reports-dozens-of-dead-birds-in-her-yard-112830524.html

500 More Red-Wing Blackbirds Found Dead in Louisiana
http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/04/500-more-redwing-blackbirds-found-dead-in-louisiana/?icid=main%7Chp-desktop%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk1%7C193488

‘Very large’ fish kill reported in bay
http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/green/bs-gr-fish-kill-bay-20110104,0,5624655.story

Dead birds in Louisiana; dead fish in Maryland, Brazil and New Zealand
http://www.examiner.com/us-headlines-in-national/dead-birds-louisiana-dead-fish-maryland-brazil-and-new-zealand

Tons Of Dead Fish Wash Ashore In Brazil
http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.parana-online.com.br%2Feditoria%2Fcidades%2Fnews%2F502434%2F%3Fnoticia%3DMORTANDADE%2BMISTERIOSA%2BDE%2BPEIXES%2BNO%2BLITORAL&act=url

Mass bird death mystifies Swedish town
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1609484.php/Mass-bird-death-mystifies-Swedish-town

Victoria river mysteriously turns bright green
http://news.nationalpost.com/2010/12/30/victoria-river-mysteriously-turns-bright-green/

[x_plus_one]

Sunspots...

[fr_freak]

I’m thinking suicide.

[tet68]

Just your every day Fortean occurances.
I’m waiting for the rain of Frogs next.

[HiTech RedNeck]

global warming

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Consider that come time to eat all they think is “oh no, fish again!”

[americanophile]

“I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD. “I will sweep away both man and beast; I will sweep away the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea— and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.” “When I destroy all mankind on the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.

Zephaniah 1-2:3

...just saying.

[B.Lyle]

Not many lifestyles that suck as much as being a fish that can’t tolerate cold water. Therapy bills must be enormous.

[justa-hairyape]

Much colder then normal ocean water right now off Maryland Coast, Western Florida Panhandle and Bermuda. Just colder then normal ocean water right now off South Western Louisiana and Eastern Florida Panhandle coast.

Please note - We have a major Arctic Blast coming after the weekend. Situation may escalate up another order of magnitude. Florida is supposed to be spared this next major cold blast, but water around Florida is already colder then normal. Texas and Louisiana are gonna get hit hard according to Accuweather forecasts.

[Pentagon Leatherneck]

My tributary off the Middle Bay (Balls Creek) has been frozen over for more than a month. It’s never stayed that way before in the 15 years we’ve been there. Blobal warming, indeed.

TC

[rickb308]

“The dead fish are primarily adult spot, with some juvenile croakers”

Sounds like they were all croakers.

[Salamander]

Swamp gas caused by global warm-cooling.

Nothing to see here.

Move along.

Mere coincidences, utterly unrelated.

[Salamander]

I blame Demi Moore.

[Salamander]

Either get out of my head or start paying rent.

;D

[Fresh Wind]

Makes you wonder how this town got its name.

[rickb308]

Thank you. I needed a laugh. I think I pulled something laughing.