Fish Die-Off May Be ‘Reproductive Behavior’But Tests Will Tell
Written by 991KBU on September 6, 2018
Tests are still on the way … both on fish and on the water from the Malibu Lagoon … after last week’s massive fish die-off of striped mullet.
A huge number of striped mullet went belly up a week ago.
And it appears possible that a huge amount of healthy fish remains in the lagoon … alive … and that the die-off was part of a natural cycle.
Here’s park superintendent Criag Sap.
NEWSCART 77816 SAP FISH 1 :18 QQQ: BUT IT DOES HAPPEN
“Yeah, and that’s not uncommon for lagoons.
“We’ve heard lagoons down on Mexico, lagoons in Southern California area that have had similar die-offs.
“I can’t speak to the numbers, but that does happen.”
How many fish died?
A lot of fish … more than 7000 fish.
That’s more than 5 tons of striped mullet … rotting in the Lagoon and hauled off to a landfill.
Adding to the mystery … only three specific species of fish were affected … other types of fish that rare observed alive in the lagoon did not die off.
And not all the mullet died either … healthy mullet have been observed schooling in Malibu Lagoon after the die-off.
Again … park superintendent Craig Sap.
NEWSCART 77815 SAP FISH 1 :18 QQQ: ENDS UP WITH THAT MUCH MULLET
“There may have been some reproductive activity that led to that, hyperactivity of the males.
“Or it could be that the success of the lagoon project, creating such an environment that with a healthy lagoon led to an environment where reproductivity could lead to that we end up with so many healthy mullet.”
In other words … the fish population got so big that a massive reproductive event occurred.
Some fish species die after mating.
That may have been what happened in Malibu Lagoon.
As to the nature of the reproductive activity .. well … this is a family radio station.
