Michigan DNR explains fish kill as ice recedes and weather warms

MICHIGAN(WPBN/WGTU)—Astemperaturesstarttowarmup,youmaynoticedeadfishalongshorelinesoflakesandponds. Thephenomenoniscalledfishkillandwemayseemoreofitthisspring. “Thatbasicallyiswhenwehaveenoughiceandsnowthatdoesn’tallowlightpenetrationdownintothesubstrateandsubsequentvegetationthatareintheselakes,”MichiganDNRHealthStocking&MarketingBiologistJeremiahBlaauwsaid. Andthatleadstotheplantsdyinganddecomposing,takinguptheremainingoxygen,causingthefishtosuffocate. “Normally,thishappensunderneaththeice.Butthenwhenwestartgettingthesewarm-updaysinthespringtime,thosedecomposersstartmakingairpocketsinthosefishandtheyhaveatendencytofloatuptothetoponcetheicerecedes,”Blaauwsaid.“Thenwiththespringwinds,theygetkindofdispersedacrossthelakes.Andthat’swhenpeoplenormallytypicallyseetheminthelakesthatthey’revisiting.” AccordingtotheDNR,thereisahighlikelihoodwewillseemorefishkillthisspringduetohavin