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July 6, 2000
Vol. 30, No. 207
For more information, contact Roy Miller, Division of Fish and Wildlife,
302-739-3441, or Melinda Carl, Information and Education, 302-739-4506
Large Fish Kill Discovered at Bald Eagle Creek and Torquay Canal
Low Dissolved Oxygen Suspected Cause
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is investigating
a large fish kill of approximately 1 million juvenile menhaden at Bald
Eagle Creek and Torquay Canal reported late this morning.
Torquay Canal is a deeply dug, circular boat lagoon situated about
two-thirds of the way upstream from the mouth of Bald Eagle Creek, located
at the head of Rehoboth Bay.
According to Roy Miller, fisheries program manager with DNREC’s
Division of Fish and Wildlife, a crew was dispatched from the DNREC
Lab and reported that the approximately 1 million mehaden probably died
last night or early this morning. No lesions were found on the fish
examined, and based on the dissolved oxygen readings, low dissolved
oxygen is suspected as the likely cause of the fish kill.
“Surface oxygen readings were 10 parts per million (ppm) indicating
super-saturation, while bottom readings in the canal in nine feet of
water were near zero,” said Miller. “The canal probably serves
as a sink for stagnant water.” Levels of dissolved oxygen in the
creek were high, about 10 ppm. Fish kills have been noted in this area
in previous years, added Miller.
Whole water samples from the site will be sent to North Carolina to
be examined for Pfiesteria cells using newly devised techniques for
detecting Pfiesteria DNA. “We should get a reading on the water
samples within 24 to 48 hours,” said Miller. “At this time
though, we have no indication this fish kill is Pfiesteria-related.”
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Document no. 40-01/00/07/04
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