August 22, 2000
Vol. 30, No. 253

For more information, contact Melinda Carl, Information and Education, 302-739-4506

Report on Inland Bays Summer 2000 Fish Kills Available

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announces the availability of a report to date on this summer’s fish kills in the Inland Bays. The report is posted on the Department’s web site at http://www.dnrec.state.de.us and is accessible through the home page under the heading, "What’s New."

The report, "Summary of Findings and Conclusions, Summer 2000 Fish Kills - Inland Bays," includes a table of Atlantic menhaden fish kills in the Inland Bays through Aug. 15 as well as a summary of monitoring results for water quality indicators such as levels of dissolved oxygen, nutrients, chlorophyll-a, and Pfiesteria.

At this time, no single agent has positively been identified as the primary cause of one or more of the fish kills, though factors such as low dissolved oxygen and an abundance of juvenile Atlantic menhaden this year are suspected as playing an important role.

Pfiesteria has been identified in water sampled in at least one fish kill site through DNA testing, but those results are inconclusive, as stated in the report:

"Although we can determine whether Pfiesteria was present at a fish kill site, we cannot always be certain whether low dissolved oxygen or Pfiesteria killed the fish. Unless biotoxin released by Pfiesteria can be identified in water samples collected during a fish kill event, it will be difficult to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt whether Pfiesteria or some other agent is responsible for a given fish kill."

DNREC continues to monitor for Pfiesteria, fish health and water quality at sites throughout the Inland Bays.

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document no. 40-01/00/08/22

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