Diagnosing summertime fish kills topic of June 18 webinar

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will present the webinar “Diagnosing Fish Kills” from 6-7:30 p.m. on June 18.

Cost is $35, and advanced registration is required at https://tx.ag/FishKills.

Recognizing and diagnosing fish mortalities

Todd Sink, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension aquaculture specialist and associate professor in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, will be the featured speaker. Sink is also director of the AgriLife Extension Aquatic Diagnostics Laboratory in Bryan-College Station.

Sink said the diagnostic laboratory receives several fish kill cases a week from around the state. For various reasons, the hot weather of summer tends to increase the number of cases.  

“Everyone thinks it is a non-issue until it happens to their pond,” Sink said. “The best defense against a fish kill is knowing the issues that can cause a fish kill, recognizing the symptoms, and being prepared to combat it once the symptoms are found.”

On the agenda

The hourlong educational webinar will provide participants with information on what defines a fish kill, their most common causes, and how to diagnose and prevent these mortality events. Sink will also discuss the signs and symptoms landowners should recognize to prevent potential fish kill situations.

Specific topics covered include: 

• Common causes of fish kills, including low dissolved oxygen.
• Toxins.
• Herbicide applications.
• Algal bloom die-offs.
• Water chemistry issues.
• Diseases and parasites.
• Spills or contaminants and how to mitigate or correct these issues.

The webinar will conclude with a 30-minute Q&A session.

For more information, contact Brittany Chesser, AgriLife Extension aquatic vegetation program specialist and lead diagnostic scientist at AgriLife Extension’s Aquatic Diagnostics Laboratory, Bryan-College Station, at [email protected].