The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is warning of the potential for fish kills resulting from this historic cold spell we’re in.
Office of Fisheries Assistant Secretary Patrick Banks said anytime the temperature drops to near or below freezing for an extended period of time, vulnerable species are put at risk.
“This is one of the harshest events that we have had in quite some time and this could definitley result in some fish kills. We hope that if we do that they are small,” said Banks.
Banks said the fish kills can appear just days after a freezing event but many times can take a week or more to start floating to the surface.
Inland freshwater ponds and waters are not expected to be at risk, but Banks said fishing living in coastal marsh areas with shallow waters are at risk right now.
“Sometimes some of those fish get caught in skinny water, not a lot of volume, and of course low volume does not hold a lot of heat and it can cause some fish kills,” said Bank.
Banks said redfish, black drum, and white trout are at risk, along with one of the most popular species, speckled trout.
“That population is already at some all-time lows in terms of female biomass,” said Banks.
If you spot a kill please contact LDWF with the details.
Comments