Hawkins Beach Fish Kill on 8-14. Photo courtesy NC DEQ.

Fish kills were reported in both the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico River Basins this week.  On Wednesday on the Neuse the fish kill could be seen between Flanners Beach and Slocum Creek. NC Division of Marine Fisheries estimates there were a couple thousand croakers, gizzard shad, pinfish, and menhaden.

Another fish kill was reported Tuesday, August 14th at Hawkins Beach in the Tar-Pamlico River Basin.

Fish kills can be caused by a combination of high temperature and low oxygen. Low oxygen can be caused by algal blooms related to nutrient pollution.

Your Lower Neuse Riverkeeper Katy Langley talked about fish kills last October: “One sure way to decrease the frequency and severity of fish kills is to reduce the amount of nutrients entering our rivers. While you might not think a fish kill concerns you, this incident is just another indicator that our waterways are suffering, and need our help.”

Keep your eyes out if you’re on the water, and let us and DEQ know about it if you see one! You can report to DEQ here.