Fish dying in St.Johns river

[Bostech]

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=156905&catid=3

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. -- A rash of fish kills centered on the St. Johns River - several involving redfish - is puzzling fishermen, outdoorsmen and state scientists looking for a cause, our news partner the Florida Times-Union reported.

Six people told a state agency Tuesday they found dead or dying fish in Duval, Clay and St. Johns counties, with death tolls ranging from eight fish to as many as 100.

More accounts continued Wednesday.

Five people said they found dead redfish, a relatively large and hearty fish, although some counted other dead species as well.

"They're just everywhere," said Tom Williams of Orange Park. "We have other fish here on our dock. Little guys, and mullets and some other fish. None of them have died, just the reds."

Williams said he disposed of about 15 redfish carcasses he began finding near his home on River Road during the Memorial Day weekend. All were about 2 feet long or larger, he said.

MORE: FWC Investigating River Fish Kill

St. Johns County resident Louann Williams - no relation - said she retrieved a large, obviously ailing redfish south of Julington Creek Wednesday for examination by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

"It was as long as my arm. ... I was able to get out of my kayak and walk right behind him and grab him by the tail," she said. The fish lurched away, Williams said, but it stopped a few feet away, so she wrapped a shirt around her hand and grabbed the fish and held it until two state employees came to collect it.

The fish had no obvious cuts or injuries but had mucus in its eyes and was probably nearly dead, she said.

"There's no way a person should ever be able to catch a redfish that size, who is still breathing, with their bare hands and hang on," Williams said.

Fish and water samples from the St. Johns are being sent to a state lab in St. Petersburg, said Catalina Brown, a scientist who coordinates a state hotline on fish kills at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.

Water tests can quickly check for some possible causes, such as algae blooms and depleted oxygen levels, she said, but analysis of fish samples could take two weeks.

Oil currently seeping into the Gulf of Mexico is not thought to have played any role in the fish kills.

To report a fish kill, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's hotline at (800) 636-0511.

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[civil42806]

Fish Kills in the St. Johns is, unfortunately, not a new issue

[north miami]

Avondale/Fishweir Creek looking sicker than I have ever witnessed in a decade.Algae.Same goes for the Ortega-Algae globs.We are monitoring a never before seen Bryozoa growth on vessel props and running gear.Ever increasing trash that flows in from select and identified drainage points such as Hamilton Street/public property at Fishweir,the subject of two past Littlepage editorials- the highly touted "River Cleanup Days" but a joke and feel good gesture.In the same department as our recent focus on evil Central Florida's over growth in the midst of our own damaging/mitigated/managed growth that recently sprawled in to regional groundwater recharge area (OakLeaf Beltway) that area River Advocates never got a handle on.John Delaney did thrill some with talk of restoring the river to 'prisitne',the promotion actually a warning to the astute,and soon after,by River Summit # 2 Delaney delivered a sales pitch for surface water drinking supply-the 'Water Transfer" proposal that created the uproar over evil Central Florida.

The River is,so far, a lost cause.

[Captain Zissou]

I remember a few years ago I saw what looked like bass floating dead in Doctor's Lake by the hundreds.  I assumed high temps, algae bloom, and oxygen depletion to be the cause.  I love the river and would hate for it to deteriorate any more.

[Captain Zissou]

PS- Bos, do you think it's the Serbs or the Republicans who are killing the fish?

[Sportmotor]

PS- Bos, do you think it's the Serbs or the Republicans who are killing the fish?

Na man, it was the CIA

[north miami]

PS- Bos, do you think it's the Serbs or the Republicans who are killing the fish?

It is...us.It's all about us.

And fellow sportsmen even.We let our politics get in the way of resource protection.A selfish sector champions Rodman and fights efforts to restore a major river tributary-and expanded fishing recreation.

Even efforts to get the public involved with the river hands on are limiting.Plenty of concerned public resource users for decades.
Familiarity and enjoyment of resources no guarantee.The Gulf oil 'disaster' originated from "The Sportsmen's State"

[ben says]

Only when all the fish are dead, all the rivers poisoned, and all the trees cut down will we realize we cannot eat money.

This civilization/species is about as 'intelligent' as a snake that eats it's own tail.

[Bostech]

North Miami is right,there is little Serb in all of us...well all of you,not me.
You abuse Earth and when it strikes back then you cry.

[Captain Zissou]

North Miami is right,there is little Serb in all of us...well all of you,not me.
You abuse Earth and when it strikes back then you cry.

I can't wait to hear people respond to that gem of an accusation.  There should be some fireworks.

[north miami]

North Miami is right,there is little Serb in all of us...well all of you,not me.
You abuse Earth and when it strikes back then you cry.

I can't wait to hear people respond to that gem of an accusation.  There should be some fireworks.

Other than "North Miami is right" I don't see where there could be any strife with the outlook..........

[RiversideLoki]

Lax enforcement of environmental laws means people have just been dumping whatever runoff they want into the river. Probably an algal bloom caused by increased nitrate levels. There are many more species of algae than the "green monster" that all of us are familiar with.

[north miami]

Lax enforcement of environmental laws means people have just been dumping whatever runoff they want into the river. Probably an algal bloom caused by increased nitrate levels. There are many more species of algae than the "green monster" that all of us are familiar with.

One would think that with all of the high profile River Advocacy and Organization lax enforcement of existing laws would not be an issue.
If it is,why?
And,in the context of "growth",mitigation and growth management could the problem be more vexing than 'enforcement'?

[RiversideLoki]

It's a sad observation of mine that all the St. Johns River Keeper can do is jump up and down and wave his hands in the air. People do what they want to do anyways.

[ben says]

For every new environmental law, there will be a new way around it. Laws don't really prevent much--especially with regards to an 'inferior item'. Lakes, rivers, streams, ecosystems do not have 'rights' in the conventional sense. Until they get 'rights' (more than 'protections'), most environmental laws will be futile. Changing the way we look at the environment will take a paradigm shift, and respect for our surroundings.