Fish kill causes not yet determined in preliminary reports

P.E.I.'s Department of Communities, Land and Environment has released preliminary reports on two fish kills over the summer.

In both cases, the case of death hasn't been determined and results from pesticide testing is still pending.

Clyde River

The first of the fish kills was reported on Clyde River on July 25.

Investigators collected 259 brook trout, 18 rainbow trout and 65 three-spined sticklebacks during the investigation and clean up.

• 'A disappointing day': Fish kill cleanup underway in Clyde River

A nearby weather station showed 33.3 mm of rain had fallen the previous day over a three hour period.

Some of the fish were transported to Environment Canada's laboratory in Moncton, N.B., for pesticide analysis. Those results are still pending.

Five brook trout and one three-spined stickleback were taken to the Atlantic Veterinary College on July 26 for a necropsy, which determined they had died quickly, but didn't determine a cause.

Little Miminegash River

On Aug. 22, a fish kill on the Little Miminegash River was reported.

There were 743 brook trout, 181 three-spined sticklebacks, three gaspereau, two white perch, and two American eels collected during the investigation.

• Dead fish found in Roseville, P.E.I., watershed

In addition to the dead fish, two dead cormorants were found downstream from the Route 14 culvert inRoseville, P.E.I., and a dead great blue heron was found upstream from the culvert.

Cleanup crews also saw a live cormorant in the area that appeared to have trouble flying, but the report notes they were unable to capture the bird.

A nearby weather station recorded 10.7 mm of rainfall on Aug. 17 and 8.9 mm of rain on Aug. 18.

There were signs of runoff from surrounding land in the Dock Road area, noted the report.

Three fish were sent to Environment Canada's laboratory in Moncton, N.B. for pesticide analysis. Those results are also still pending.

The Atlantic Veterinary College conducted necropsies on five brook trout. A cause of death couldn't be determined.

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