Fish Legions/Kills?

Question

In the water ways where I live we have a problem , usually in the spring, with legions and sores on the fish. Could these be caused by the use of [first] agri-lime to 'sweeten the soil' and then the followup of nitrogen fertilizer? The runoff of the lime would change the ph in the water, opening the fish to fungal infections. Then the fertilizer runoff would burn them. If this is what's happening, would a county-wide rotation schedule help/

Answer 1

all kinds of things are in the water runoff (fertilizers, human waste, pesticides, other contaminants like possibly mercury or lead, and in some places there "used to be" runoff from dead animal carcases).  First have that water tested (so you will know for sure what's in the water..there are such things as testing kits you can buy) and then have your country get involved in clean-up of the waters.

Answer 2

Call someone, as opposed to taking a sample. A biologist needs to see where as opposed to just a sample that you may contaminate. But definitely call. In the US call the County Extension Service or the Fish and Game, or possibly a University Biology Department (or email them, they all have addresses found with a bit of on line research. This things, believe it or not, are frequently a natural event, but the above people will know.

Answer 3

Collect some dead fish and transport to a marine Biologist, fish & game comission or whatever governmental agencies is in charge of this area where you live. Take some water samples too for testing. Call the local media to see if anyone has reported this.

Be careful, large agri- business firms have been known to " silence" critics and whistleblowers.

Answer 4

No, a chemical rotation schedule would not help. Research in various parts of the world show that the fertilizers used in agriculture tend to kill frogs, lizards, and various other reptiles and amphibians. Do you recall how when you were a girl there were frogs and lizards in abundance everywhere? I'm sure that's not the case anymore. I remember how many dead snakes there used to be on the roads around here about 30 years ago. Now, you hardly ever see any. Nor do the tree frogs mounted on the windows outside keep people awake anymore. I went back and took some science classes a few years ago, since I realized how lacking I was in that area. The teacher made us create a presentation from a list of topics. The one I chose was on the effects of urea and nitrogen from agricultural applications on local wildlife. I was very surprised to find out how much of it winds up in local waterways and how drastically it impacted the wildlife. No matter what substitutions are made for products containing harmful chemicals, the new applications will still be harmful. In my opinion, the only rotation that would have any impact is for an occasional all-natural process to be used.

Answer 5

Take a sample to your state fish and game service or DNR.  I find that if you call the DNR they can be really helpful sometimes in sending you in the right direction.

It may just be parasites, but if it is from agricultural runoff, it needs to be addressed.