BajaNomad

Dead fish on East Cape

Cranskin - 6-20-2011 at 01:42 PM

Does anyone know WHY we had millions of dead fish along our beaches on the east cape? All near Vinorama to Punta Gorda. This happened 2 days ago. Buzzards are not even eating them. Possible contamination? I cant believe that the colder waters caused all this. Thanks for some input, Lynn and Lynn:?:

dtbushpilot - 6-20-2011 at 01:44 PM

What kind of fish are they?......dt

BajaBlanca - 6-20-2011 at 01:48 PM

welcome to the forum Cranskin.

I found this report a site called Milenio and they say they do NOT know yet what caused the death of so many fish. apparently, it has happened before. They are investigating the possibility that it was someone who polluted the waters while cleaning tanks near the port ....

Mortandad de peces en La Gallega y Punta Gorda



2010-01-03•Región

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Cientos de peces aparecieron muertos en “Los Bajos de la Gallega” y “Punta Gorda”, al norte de esta ciudad, al parecer como consecuencia de que se arrojaron sustancias tóxicas a las aguas del Golfo de México.

El hecho fue reportado por personal de Protección Civil del ayuntamiento local, quienes realizaban limpiaron aproximadamente cinco kilómetros de la playa donde se registró la mortandad de diversas especies de peces.

El director de Atención a Emergencias de Protección Civil estatal, Francisco Rergis aseguró que se investiga el origen del ecocidio con la finalidad de determinar las causas.

Indicó que al lugar de los hechos arribaron autoridades de Protección Civil estatal y local, del Acuario de Veracruz, del Sistema de Agua y Saneamiento Metropolitano (SAS), entre otras, quienes se encuentran investigando las posibles causas de los cientos de peces muertos.

Por otra parte, en entrevista vía telefónica con el titular de la Federación de Cooperativas de la Industria Pesquera del Estado, Isabel Pastrana Vázquez, dijo que el caso pudo registrarse porque alguna empresa cercana a la zona pudo haber arrojado sustancias tóxicas al mar, lo cual provocó la muerte de las especies.

“Pudiera tratarse de alguna de la zona portuaria que limpia sus estanques cada año. Ya tenemos algunas fotos tomadas y llevamos algunos peces a un laboratorio para determinar la muerte de los peces”, agregó.

Indicó que murieron especies de agua de poca profundidad, tales como la lisa, la anguila, el pulpo, entre otras.

Sin embargo, Isabel Pastrana refirió que se presentó la misma situación en ocasiones anteriores.


[Edited on 6-20-2011 by BajaBlanca]

Cranskin - 6-20-2011 at 01:52 PM

There were several, red snapper, ells, parrott fish and small bait type fish. All sizes. Just so many that you could not walk through them. Very sad. Many dies with their mouths open and stomach protruding, No news anywhere!

dtbushpilot - 6-20-2011 at 02:06 PM

That's tragic, please keep us informed if you hear any new info.....dt

jenny.navarrette - 6-20-2011 at 09:16 PM

The article this video came from says it was a red tide.

Bob H - 6-20-2011 at 09:34 PM

How very sad! Indeed.

Excerpt from another article

Stickers - 6-20-2011 at 09:39 PM

According to the report, three major factors have been present in the handful of mass extinctions that have occurred in the past: an increase of both hypoxia (low oxygen) and anoxia (lack of oxygen that creates "dead zones") in the oceans, warming and acidification. The panel warns that the combination of these factors will inevitably cause a mass marine extinction if swift action isn't taken to improve conditions.

The report is the latest of several published in recent months examining the dire conditions of the oceans. A recent World Resources Institute report suggests that all coral reefs could be gone by 2050 if no action is taken to protect them, while a study published earlier this year in BioScience declares oysters as "functionally extinct", their populations decimated by over-harvesting and disease. Just last week scientists forecasted that this year's Gulf "dead zone" will be the largest in history due to increased runoff from the Mississippi River dragging in high levels of nitrates and phosphates from fertilizers.

A recent study in the journal Nature, meanwhile, suggests that not only will the next mass extinction be man-made, but that it could already be underway. Unless humans make significant changes to their behavior, that is.

Cypress - 6-21-2011 at 04:56 AM

Heck, just put the blame on Anthropogenic Global Warming. It's real trendy and politically correct. I'm sure some sort of scenario can be formulated to make it sound plausable.

Osprey - 6-21-2011 at 05:38 AM

As a kid living near the beach in south Florida I witnessed many die offs of reef fish there.

The events were called NorEasters >> strong winds caused huge swells which were so deep they stirred the sand in and around coral reefs, the water held more sand than oxygen. Kids like me were paid a few bucks to load fish in trucks headed for the market -- their numbers were uncountable and most of them were still edible.

I went to Cabo Pulmo last Saturday to snorkel but for a couple of days swells like that hit the beaches and brought out scores of surfers where they had never been seen before and clouded the reef for miles along the bay. Bajajudy can probably give us more info on the swell as she lives near the beach. The video shows almost all reef types, parrots, grunts, puffers, etc. Red tides usually scatter beaches with all the fish in the area, sardines, bait fish line the shore.

Katiejay99 - 6-21-2011 at 06:35 AM

Here is an interesting link talking about mass fish die-offs world wide.

Mass fish die-offs and volcanic eruptions

Cardon Man - 6-21-2011 at 07:10 AM

The fish kill Cranskin noted extends some distance north of Vinorama as well. Though not perhaps involving the numbers of fish described to the south. A friend just told me of finding a large leopard grouper alive on the beach. However, he didn't feel safe eating it considering the numbers of other fish scattered dead alng the water line.

BajaBlanca - 6-21-2011 at 11:31 AM

hard to imagine a world without fish .... or reefs .... can we educate fast enough ?

Osprey - 6-21-2011 at 12:27 PM

Blanca, do you think educating people will save fish and reefs from dying? What would you teach them, exactly?

All the reefs and all the fish were killed before, millions of years before man arrived on the planet -- maybe several times.

Maybe I can help you feel better and rephrase: "Hard to imagine a world with fish and reefs dying right now faster than new ones are growing. Maybe we all need to learn more about fish and reefs."

Bajaceresa - 6-21-2011 at 07:35 PM

There were at least a dozen dead red snappers floating off shore just west of Chileno and a very odd, eel-like fish, also dead and floating, that nobody has yet been able to identify. I wasn't able to attach a photo to this post, but if you'd like to see a photo and possibly identify the fish, drop me an email at ceresa@mexonline.com. A woman who was running on the beach in front of Ventanas on the Corridor yesterday told me that there were hundreds of dead fish there too.

Osprey - 6-22-2011 at 06:02 AM

I've been walking/swimming the beach here in La Ribera most mornings and have yet to see a dead fish so with the reports that keep appearing here from areas that would have been hit hard by the big swell, I'm beginning to think that must have played a part in the dieoff.

classicbajabronco - 6-22-2011 at 08:01 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Osprey
I've been walking/swimming the beach here in La Ribera most mornings and have yet to see a dead fish so with the reports that keep appearing here from areas that would have been hit hard by the big swell, I'm beginning to think that must have played a part in the dieoff.


I think osprey is on to something, I also think it's the waves and the high concentration of sand in the water. Sardines die in a hurry if there is sand in a bait tank, as it gets caught in their gills.

Lots of dead fish on the beach here as well. The fish kill came with the hurricane swell. We lost about 30-50 feet of sand beach with the storm, all that sand had to go somewhere. I think a lot of it clogged up the fish gills.

Osprey - 6-22-2011 at 08:48 AM

Bronco, thanks for that. If I'm right about this, that'll be one in a row.

dtbushpilot - 6-22-2011 at 08:52 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Osprey
Bronco, thanks for that. If I'm right about this, that'll be one in a row.



Way to go jorge, you've got a streak going :lol::lol:....dt

Cardon Man - 6-22-2011 at 09:19 AM

I think the fish kill and swell are only coincidental. That recent swell, while large, is certainly not out of the ordinary. If swell alone could cause a fish kill it would stand to reason that it would happen with far greater frequency.

Osprey - 6-22-2011 at 09:53 AM

First time I've seen surfers at Las Barracas and a bunch of other beaches and I've been coming here, living here since the 70s. Don't ruin a really good streak Cardon.

Osprey - 6-22-2011 at 10:07 AM

You've all got me stoked now. Tomorrow, if I have a chance, I'll walk downtown, talk to Alejandro the manager of the park at Cabo Pulmo. By now maybe his office will have a handle on what caused the dieoff. If I find out it was the swell I'll report right away. If it was something else, I may take a little time getting back to you. Another reason for my visit will be to mooch some mangos (not near ready yet but it is time to ask) -- he has 5 big Ken's in front of his office and two years ago he let me have at em.

bajajudy - 6-22-2011 at 10:36 AM

Just back from our morning walk in front of the san jose estero. Lotsa small "food" fish dead. Sad to see all those baby snappers, pargos etc which will never make it to my plate.

Cardon Man - 6-22-2011 at 03:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Osprey
First time I've seen surfers at Las Barracas and a bunch of other beaches and I've been coming here, living here since the 70s. Don't ruin a really good streak Cardon.


I'd argue that Las Barracas has been surfed many, many times since the 70's... yet I digress. I'm not one to ruin a good streak. :lol:

Cardon Man - 6-22-2011 at 03:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajajudy
Just back from our morning walk in front of the san jose estero. Lotsa small "food" fish dead. Sad to see all those baby snappers, pargos etc which will never make it to my plate.


A friend reported dead snook near Puerto Los Cabos. Tragic to hear of so many fine food/game fish go to waste.

[Edited on 6-22-2011 by Cardon Man]

Osprey - 6-22-2011 at 03:31 PM

I'm afraid Alejandro is going to tell me the estuary in San Jose released some tainted water and the swell carried it north and held it inshore hence the snook, snapper, reef types.

bajajudy - 6-22-2011 at 04:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Osprey
I'm afraid Alejandro is going to tell me the estuary in San Jose released some tainted water and the swell carried it north and held it inshore hence the snook, snapper, reef types.



Nope, the boca had not been breached...plus I didnt see a single talapia!