2002 was a particularly bad year for fishkills, with 8 being reported.

Department Investigating Fish Mortalities

July 11, 2002

DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATING FISH MORTALITIES

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI -- The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment is investigating an incident of fish mortalities discovered Wednesday.

The Department received a report late Wednesday afternoon of dead fish in the upper end of the Wilmot River in Norboro. Spokesperson Jim Young, Director of the Water Resources Division, said the call came from a member of a conservation group which was doing habitat improvement work in the area of Murphy's Bridge.

Young said investigators collected approximately 200-300 dead fish including sticklebacks and brook trout. Investigators have not yet determined the extent of the incident due to a lack of clarity in the water.

"At this point, we do not know the cause of death. It appears that water temperature and dissolved oxygen were not factors, but beyond that we cannot make any determination until we receive lab results," Young said.

Investigators collected water and sediment samples, as well as dead fish to be sent to the Environment Canada laboratory in Moncton for analysis. It is expected to be a couple of weeks before results are back.

The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment is continuing to investigate the incident in cooperation with Environment Canada and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Department Updates Investigation into Fish Mortalities

July 15, 2002

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI -- The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment provided an update Monday on an incident of fish mortalities discovered last Wednesday, July 10.

The incident occurred in the upper end of the Wilmot River in Norboro. It was reported by a member of a conservation group which was doing habitat improvement work in the area of Murphy's Bridge. Spokesperson Jim Young, director of the Water Resources Division, said results of autopsies on six of the dead fish were received Monday from the Atlantic Veterinary College.

"According to the autopsy report, the fish were in good condition. They were feeding well at the time of death and there were no signs of an infectious disease," Young said. "The report indicates that the condition of the fish was consistent with either acute anoxia or lack of oxygen, which the investigation has ruled out, or a toxic exposure."

Water, sediment and fish tissue samples were sent last week to the Environment Canada laboratory in Moncton for analysis. It is expected to take two to three weeks. Until they receive results of the lab analysis, Young said investigators cannot make any further determination as to the cause of death.

Meanwhile, the initial cleanup on the river was completed Monday. Young reported that investigators collected approximately 4,500 fish in total. The majority of the fish are brook trout. There are also some sticklebacks and a small number of rainbow trout.

"The affected area appears to be a five-kilometre stretch ending in the area of Miller's Pond in Kelvin Grove. Investigators have found live fish in the area between Miller's Pond and Freetown Bridge," Young added.

Approximately 25 people have been working the last several days on the river cleanup. They include members of local conservation groups, a crew with the Young Environmentalists Program, and staff of the Departments
of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment and Transportation and Public Works.

The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment is continuing to investigate the incident in cooperation with Environment Canada and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Department Investigating Fish Mortality

July 19, 2002

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI -- The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment is investigating an incident of fish mortalities in the Milton area.

The report of dead fish was called into the toll-free Environmental Emergency Response number Friday morning. Spokesperson George Somers of the Water Resources Division said the area affected is a tributary of the North
River located north of Route 2 in Milton.

"During the initial stage of the investigation Friday, investigators observed approximately 200 dead fish over a 3.5-kilometre section of the stream," Somers said, adding that they were mostly brook trout and some sticklebacks.

Somers said investigators have determined that the water temperature and dissolved oxygen readings were within the normal range for this time of year.

"We do not know the cause of death at this point. Water and sediment samples, and dead fish have been sent to the Environment Canada laboratory in Moncton for analysis. That is expected to take two to three weeks," Somers said.

The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment is continuing to investigate the incident in cooperation with Environment Canada and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Department Updates Investigations

July 22, 2002

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI -- The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment received reports of three incidents of fish mortalities over the weekend, bringing the number of investigations to five.

The department received reports Friday evening of dead fish in the Wilmot River in Wilmot Valley and a tributary of the Clyde River in the Kingston area. A call Sunday night alerted the department to dead fish in a tributary of the Trout River in the O'Leary area.

Spokesperson Bruce Raymond, of the department's Water Resources Division, said the incident in the Wilmot River affected a four-kilometre area east of Cairns Road through Marchbank's Pond in Wilmot Valley.

"Approximately 6,100 fish were collected over the weekend. That includes mostly brook trout and a small number of rainbow trout and sticklebacks," he said.

The second incident reported Friday night involved a tributary of the Clyde River in the Kingston area. Raymond said approximately 300 fish were collected at that site, with roughly an equal number of sticklebacks and brook trout.

In both incidents reported Friday, Raymond said water temperature and dissolved oxygen did not appear to be factors in the fish mortalities.

"Water and sediment samples and dead fish were collected at each site and sent to the Environment Canada laboratory in Moncton for analysis. Until we receive those results, we cannot make any further determination as
to the cause of death."

The incident reported Sunday night involved a three-kilometre area in a tributary of the Trout River above Leard's Pond. Raymond said the fish were quite decomposed, indicating that they most likely died last week.

"Because of the condition of the fish and the time that has elapsed, it is impossible to get an accurate count or to collect samples for analysis," he added. The cleanup is continuing at the site of the three weekend incidents.

Updating the status of earlier incidents of fish mortalities, Raymond said the initial cleanup of the North River was completed over the weekend. The incident there was reported Friday morning. The area affected is a 3.5-kilometre section of the stream north of Route 2 in Milton.

Raymond said approximately 1,400 fish were collected, mostly brook trout and sticklebacks.

Raymond said the department hopes to receive results later this week of laboratory analysis of water, sediment and fish tissue samples from an earlier incident of fish mortalities in the Wilmot River. That event, reported July 10, involved a five-kilometre stretch in the upper end of the river above Miller's Pond. Approximately 4,500 dead fish were collected at that time.

Raymond said results of analysis from samples taken at the three incidents reported Friday are expected to take two to three weeks.

Department Provides Update on Investigation into Fish Mortalities

July 25, 2002

DEPARTMENT PROVIDES UPDATE ON INVESTIGATIONS INTO FISH MORTALITIES

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI -- The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment provided an update Thursday on investigations into recent incidents of fish mortalities in Island streams.

The department received a final report from the Environment Canada laboratory in Moncton Thursday afternoon on analysis of water samples collected during the initial investigation into the incident of fish mortalities in Wilmot River July 10. Approximately 4,500 dead fish were collected over a five-kilometre stretch in the upper
end of the Wilmot River from Norboro to the area of Miller's Pond in Kelvin Grove.

Spokesperson Bruce Raymond, of the department's Water Resources Division, said lab results indicate the insecticide azinphos-methyl was detected in high concentrations in water samples taken from pools of standing water at the edge of fields adjacent to the stream. The department is still awaiting results of sediment and
fish tissue samples from the July 10 incident in the Wilmot River.

In another incident, Raymond said the department is investigating fish mortalities at Huntley River in West Prince. A local watershed crew discovered the dead fish and notified the department Wednesday afternoon. The area affected is above Gordon's Pond in Huntley.

"To date, investigators have collected 90 dead brook trout in a 1.5-kilometre section; however, there were also live fish seen in the same area," he said.

Raymond said temperature and dissolved oxygen readings were within the normal range. Water, sediment and fish samples were collected and sent to the Environment Canada laboratory for analysis and dead fish were taken to the Atlantic Veterinary College for autopsies. Department staff were continuing to investigate areas further upstream Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment, Chester Gillan said the department's Investigation and Enforcement Section is inspecting fields throughout the province to ensure compliance with buffer zone legislation.

"Enforcement officers surveyed some of the Island's river systems by helicopter Wednesday, including those where we have had fish mortalities this year," the Minister said. "They have identified a number of areas where there appear to be violations and are continuing to investigate those cases."

Minister Gillan said where a buffer zone violation is noted, the landowner may be charged and/or ordered to remove rows of crop to bring the field into compliance with the legislation.

Department Receives Results of Water Sample Analysis

August 2, 2002

DEPARTMENT RECEIVES RESULTS OF WATER SAMPLE ANALYSIS

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI -- The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment has received results of water sample analysis from three incidents of fish mortalities last month.

The water quality results reported by Environment Canada concern samples collected during the investigation into incidents of fish mortalities in the North, Wilmot, and Clyde Rivers, which were reported on July 19.

Spokesperson Bruce Raymond noted that the department is awaiting results of analysis of sediment and fish tissue samples from all of the incidents, as well as results of analysis of the water samples taken from North River.

Looking at the report to date from North River, Raymond said lab results indicate the fungicide chlorothalonil was detected in a water sample taken from a pool of standing water at the edge of a field adjacent to the stream, and in water samples taken from the stream. The incident in North River affected a 3.5-kilometre section of stream north of Route 2 in Milton. Approximately 1,500 dead fish were collected.

In the results from the incident in the Wilmot River July 19, Raymond said the Environment Canada report indicates that the insecticide azinphos-methyl was detected in water samples from the steam system. In that incident, 6,500 dead fish were collected in a four-kilometre area east of Cairns Road through Marchbank's Pond
in Wilmot Valley.

Turning to the Clyde River, Raymond said the laboratory results show chlorothalonil was present in water samples taken from pools of standing water at the edge of fields adjacent to the stream. In this case, approximately 300 dead fish were collected over a 3.5-kilometre section of stream in the Kingston area.

The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment is continuing to investigate all of the incidents of fish mortalities in cooperation with Environment Canada and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Department Investigating Fish Mortalities

August 21, 2002

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI -- Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment Chester Gillan reported today that his department is investigating three incidents of fish mortalities discovered Tuesday and Wednesday.

The department received a call Wednesday of dead fish in a pond in the east branch of the Westmoreland River in Westmoreland. Investigators who responded to the call observed 30 dead fish in and below the pond.

"An environmental response team was sent to the site Wednesday afternoon. As part of the investigation, they will be taking water temperature and dissolved oxygen readings and collecting water, soil and fish samples to be sent for analysis," said Minister Gillan.

Meanwhile, environment officials collected approximately 200 dead fish from an incident in the west branch of the Westmoreland River in the Crapaud area. That incident was discovered Tuesday. Investigators collected water and sediment samples, as well as dead fish to be sent to the Environment Canada laboratory in Moncton for analysis.

Another incident was reported Tuesday afternoon in the east branch of the Tryon River between North Tryon and Gamble's Corner. Investigators collected 33 dead fish over the last two days but were having difficulty determining the extent of the situation because of poor water clarity.
"Investigators will continue to check on the site, and once the stream clears they will be able to get a better assessment of the situation," said Minister Gillan.

Water and sediment samples and dead fish were collected from the Tryon River site Tuesday to be sent for analysis. In both incidents reported Tuesday, water temperature and dissolved oxygen levels were normal for this time of year.

The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment is investigating the three incidents of fish mortalities in cooperation with Environment Canada and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Department Receives Final Laboratory Results

November 8, 2002

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI -- The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment has received the last of the laboratory analysis from nine incidents of fish mortalities this summer.

Minister of Environment Chester Gillan said results of fish tissue analyses have been received from the Environment Canada laboratory in Moncton. Minister Gillan said the lab report indicates the insecticide azinphos-methyl was detected in fish collected during the initial investigation into the incident in the Wilmot River July 10. That event saw 4,500 fish collected over a five-kilometre stretch in the upper end of the Wilmot River, from Norboro to the area of Miller's Pond in Kelvin Grove. Results of water sample analyses reported in August also indicated that azinphos-methyl was detected in high concentrations in water samples taken from pools of standing water at the edge of fields adjacent to the stream.

Minister Gillan said there were no pesticides detected in the fish tissue from the other incidents of fish mortalities; however, he cautions that result is not unexpected.

"Pesticide products continue to degrade in fish tissue even after the fish has died, so from the time an incident occurs until investigators collect the samples and the laboratory is able to properly preserve them, any products that may have been in the fish tissue continue to break down," said Minister Gillan. "Beyond that, the analysis itself is difficult. There are so many organic compounds in a fish tissue sample as compared to a water sample, that it is much more difficult for laboratory technicians to extract any one particular product."

Looking at the results of the laboratory analysis of water and sediment samples, as well as the circumstances surrounding the incidents, Minister Gillan said experts in the Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment have concluded that pesticides were the likely cause of at least seven of the nine incidents of fish mortalities this summer.

"If we look at the circumstances of these incidents, they followed periods of heavy rainfall where there was evidence of runoff," he said. "As well, the water temperature and dissolved oxygen readings were normal in all cases, and there were no signs of infectious disease. And finally, pesticides were detected in water samples taken during the investigations."

Because the number of fish collected was relatively small and limited to a short length of stream, Minister Gillan said there is some question about the cause of the fish mortalities which occurred in the Tryon River and the east branch of the Westmoreland River on August 20.

"While pesticides may have been the cause of the fish mortalities, investigators have not been able to determine that conclusively in these two incidents," the minister added.

Minister Gillan said Environment Canada is continuing to consider charges in four of the incidents of fish mortalities: the incidents reported July 10 and July 19 in the Wilmot River, and the incidents reported July 19 in the Clyde and North Rivers. He said the investigation has been closed on the other cases, either because the cause of the fish mortalities is not clear or there is insufficient evidence to proceed.