Unsightly Fish Die-off Sparks Curiosity
Residents walking along the Sound or the Saugatuck River may notice the same thing: dozens of dead fish. The fish - identified as Menhaden (also called “Bunker”) are victims of hypoxia, or low dissolved oxygen levels in the water. According to the Connecticut DEEP - hypoxia can be caused by factors such as warming of the water, pollution from runoff, or schools being too large. Although alarming to see, this process is not unusual for the environment-sensitive fish, and has been noted throughout the Northeast this year, and in years past. Photo taken from the Ned Dimes Marina boat ramp.