Major fish kill reported in Oyster Creek discharge canal
An August 2003 menhaden fish kill in Rhode Island. (Photo: eutrophication&hypoxia via Flickr)
More than 5,000 fish have died in a discharge canal at the Oyster Creek nuclear plant in Lacey Township.
State officials say the Atlantic menhaden, also known as bunker, may be drawn to the canal’s warm water or are scared of a predator. But officials say there’s little they can do.
Environmental Protection Department spokesman Larry Ragonese tells the Asbury Park Press officials would kill the fish if they tried to remove them or if they tried to divert them to the colder waters of Barnegat Bay.
Ragonese says they’ll continue to die if the stay in the discharge canal.
Oyster Creek Spokeswoman Suzanne D’Ambrosio tells WOBM that there is no indication that the “environmental anomaly” is due to plant operations.
There have been multiple fish kills in New Jersey due to various reasons in the last decade.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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