Low oxygen blamed for fish kill near Carolina Pines

Officials are pointing to low oxygen in the water for the death of about 500,000 fish in the Neuse River between Otter Creek and Carolina Pines Tuesday morning.

Susan Massengale, public information officer for the N.C. Division of Water Quality, said sensors measured a rapid drop in oxygen levels spreading through various depths in the river Monday night.

"The fish were already stressed from high water temperatures," Massengale said. "Warm water doesn't hold oxygen. It was probably wind or currents that came along and stirred the water. It's not likely it was something unnatural like an egg-beater."

The Neuse River Rapid Response Team is investigating the fish kill. It is sending samples to a lab at N.C. State University to see if algae contributed to the kill.

Massengale said about 538,000 fish will be seen floating on the river and drifting to the banks on the three-mile stretch between channel marker 11 and Carolina Pines during the next few days. Species killed include striped mullet, croaker, flounder, shrimp, blue crab, silverside and spot, all juvenile.

"We don't want people to panic," Massengale said. "We're investigating, but it was most likely a natural occurrence."

The Division of Water Quality recommends restriction of swimming and other water activities in areas of fish kills.

Anyone seeing anything unusual on the river can call the Neuse River Rapid Response Team at (888) 764-7661.