Spills and Kills: Investigating the Cause of Fish Mortality

Presented by Calista Daigle, Pace Analytical Services
Contact Information: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Fishing is one of America’s favorite outdoor recreational activities. An estimated 50 million people fish in freshwater and saltwater each year. In the public eye, any loss of fish, whether due to natural or anthropogenic sources, causes public concern. Fish kills determined to be caused by activities such as water main breaks, sanitary sewer overflows or chemical spills result in fines and other enforcement activities. Determining the source of a fish kill requires a thorough on-site investigation including water quality sampling, evaluation of the condition of the fish and evaluation of environmental conditions. The presentation will discuss the general process and monitoring required to investigate fish kills.