MDE Investigates Large Fish Kill In Chesapeake Bay

BALTIMORE, MD (January 5, 2011) - The Maryland Department of the Environment is investigating a fish kill in the Chesapeake Bay in which an estimated two million fish have died.

Natural causes appear to be the reason for the deaths of the fish. Cold water stress exacerbated by a large population of the affected species (juvenile spot fish) appears to be the cause of the kill.

Preliminary monitoring results show that water quality in the area appears to be acceptable. Additional water quality monitoring results are to be analyzed.

The affected fish are almost exclusively juvenile spot fish, three-to-six inches in length. MDE first received reports of dead fish last week....