| Virginia Fish Kills Remain a Mystery |
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| Written by Erika Fredrickson | |
| Monday, 21 April 2008 | |
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Fish in some rivers of the Shenandoah Valley have been developing bloody lesions, sores, and bubbles in their eyes. They often swim around aimlessly until they finally die. In 2005, about 80% of adult smallmouth bass and redbreast sunfish died from these symptoms over the course of four months. Just within this year, the James River of the Valley has become one more stream to see stressed out, mutated fish. So far, scientists and wildlife experts have been unable to pinpoint the cause, even after taking water samples to check for toxins. Conservation groups have listed the Shenandoah River as one of the 10 most endangered waterways in the US, and point to agriculture and development as the culprits behind the phenomenon. Global warming is another possible contributor, as well as estrogen from discarded birth control pills which has contributed to male fish developing female parts. Researchers have eliminated viruses as a cause, but they are still looking hard at heavy metals, pesticides and bacteria. Surprisingly, the ailed fish are continuing to reproduce in normal numbers, even if they die in masses. Source: Daily News Record (Virginia), The Virginian Pilot |
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