Environmental sleuths solve mystery of dead coho in a Courtenay creek

Environmental sleuths solve mystery of dead coho in a Courtenay creek

Source: The Times Colonist

4/28/2024

Environmental sleuths solve mystery of dead coho in a Courtenay creek

Credit: COMOX VALLEY CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP

Before the fish started dying, the region was in a period of drought. Then, immediately after significant rainfall, the smolts turned up dead. All the evidence pointed to a chemical found in tire rubber.
In May of 2021, volunteers with a watershed-steward group in the Comox Valley came upon a startling scene: 65 dead juvenile coho salmon inside a collection box used to temporarily stall and count the fish on their journey to the ocean.

It was a big surprise, said Helmut Novak, vice-president of the Millard Piercy Watershed Stewards.

The group had installed the smolt fence and counting box at a new location that year, in Courtenay’s Piercy Creek, about half a kilometre downstream from the Comox Valley Parkway.

Piercy Creek

Salmon, Coho

Continue...

News Id		Source	Stamp	country
4051	Mysterious situation in Coconut Grove as thousands of expensive fish suddenly die outside several homes	local10	2021-05-01	US
4052	Woman rescues fish from library pond	CTV Winnipeg	2013-10-12	CA
4053	New Species of Giant Fish Arapaima Discovered in Brazil	sci-news	2013-10-11	BZ
4054	Absurd Creature of the Week: The Half-Ton Giant Freshwater Stingray With a 15-Inch Poison Barb	wired	2013-09-27	US
4055	X-rays reveal Snake River sturgeon eating tackle	spokesman	2013-09-30	US
4056	Giant tower in the shape of a puffer fish creates online uproar in China	abc	2013-09-27	CN
4057	12-foot sturgeons possible in James River, scientist says	richmond	2013-09-28	US
4058	Snake versus fish: Moment serpent reared up from pond to sink its fangs into hapless perch	Daily Mail	2013-09-25	BG
4059	Record Breaking Salmon Harvest This Year in Alaska	kdlg	2013-09-23	US
4060	Record run leads to relaxation of last Columbia salmon fishing rules	Oregon Live	2013-09-24	US
4061	Goldfish feared dead in house fire found alive in his pond after living for TWO YEARS with no fresh food or light	dailymail	2013-09-19	UK
4062	Fishing Published May 4 Texas fisherman catches 876-pound record-breaking fish	Fox News	2021-05-04	US
4063	Tons Of Dead Fish Leaving ‘Unbearable Smell’ At Jersey Shore	wobm	2021-05-10	US
4064	Facing Lockdown at Sea	hakaimagazine	2021-05-07	CA
4065	Global effort to save dwindling ocean fish faces moment of truth	ajot	2021-05-03	US
4066	Angler turns cowboy, jumps in and rides giant Mola mola	petethomasoutdoors	2013-08-02	US
4067	Belarus leader beats Putin's pike with man-sized catfish	theobserver	2013-07-31	CA
4068	Marine experts: Gulf of Maine has become a cod-forsaken place, endangering all fisheries	bangordailynews	2013-07-31	US
4069	San Diego angler still fishing at 90, catches giant yellowtail	petethomasoutdoors	2013-07-25	US
4070	Fish-farm firm awarded $75,000 in defamation ruling	theglobeandmail	2013-07-22	CA
4071	Cut Off From the Ocean by a Volcanic Eruption, These Fish Had to Learn to Live in a Lake	hakaimagazine	2021-05-03	US
4072	At least 3.8 million fish killed by winter weather on Texas coast	brownwood news	2021-05-04	US
4073	Seaspiracy Producer Demands Biden Shut Down Fish Factory Farms	vegnews	2021-05-06	US
4074	Does ocean acidification alter fish behavior? Fraud allegations create a sea of doubt	sciencemag	2021-05-06	AU
4075	Combined effort to protect rarest native fish	odt	2013-07-08	NZ

162 of [222 - pages.]