Infectious disease being investigate as source of massive fish kill being investigated.

August 18th 2004
 Some scientists have question whether the massive fish kill of croakers in August was the result of an upwelling of cold Atlantic water.    Temperatures in the Atlantic at the time were estimated at 38 degrees from the upwelling, the border line temperature for croakers.    Of the millions of croaker fish killed most were estimated at four years old.
While the fish being investigated have no signs of toxic algae or low dissolved oxygen levels a mysterious and unexplained bleeding of the gills has been observed.   Although not initial observed because most fish had started decaying, the mysterious bleeding of the gills is being investigated by scientists.   Developing story.



Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.