Report on Observations of fish kill in Hood Canal

							                                     State of Washington
                      Department of Fish and Wildlife
  Mailing Address: 600 Capitol Way N, Olympia WA 98501-1091, (360) 902-2200, TDD (360) 902-2207
       Main Office Location: Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington Street SE, Olympia WA

              Report on Observations of fish kill in Hood Canal

January 9, 2008


                                  Ocean Eveningsong
                              Fish and Wildlife Biologist
                    Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
                                 evenioe@dfw.wa.gov
                                (360) 902-2793 Office

Observation Date: January 8, 2008
Observation Locations: Hood Canal: from Potlatch State Park to 10 miles north of
Hoodsport.
Conditions: 34 F, Cloudy, Wind: light and variable, visibility: 10 mi, patchy snow
and ice on the water, and 3 inches of snow accumulation on land.

At 10:00 a.m. on 8, January 2008, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
(WDFW) received a report from John O’laughan, a resident of the Potlatch area. Mr.
O’laughan reported seeing numerous dead anchovies in Hood Canal near resident’s docks
in the Potlatch area.

A WDFW biologist responded to the call, finding that the fish kill extended along Hood
Canal’s west shoreline for a total of 15 miles. The observations were made from
shorelines and docks in that area between 1100 and 1300 on January 8th. The sites
investigated were Potlatch State Park, two private residence docks, Glen Ayr Resort
dock, and two shoreline locations north of Hoodsport.

In all areas where the anchovies were observed, there was patchy ice and snow on the
water. There were abundant feeding seagulls, and seals in these areas as well. All
anchovies WDFW observed were dead, some on ice/snow, and others floating on the
surface of the water. No other dead fish species were observed in this area.

A total of five specimens were collected. The fish were from 15-17 cm fork length. The
fish were transported to the WDFW laboratory, and examined by a pathologist for signs
of disease or other clues as to the cause of this fish kill. Some of the fish exhibited marks
indicating predation, and all had hemorrhaging at the bottom of the eye (Figure 1). All of
the fish had empty stomachs. Preliminary results showed no signs of infection, or other
health problems, but the final test results may take up to a month.
                                     State of Washington
                       Department of Fish and Wildlife
  Mailing Address: 600 Capitol Way N, Olympia WA 98501-1091, (360) 902-2200, TDD (360) 902-2207
       Main Office Location: Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington Street SE, Olympia WA

Ocean Eveningsong
January 9, 2008
Page #2


Dissolved oxygen levels recorded by the ORCA buoy near Hoodsport on this day were 3-
7 mg/l above the critical level, which provides no support for a DO related fish kill. The
water temperature was 8-10C. There were no indications of a spill or other release of
toxic chemicals in the area of the kill.

On January 9, 2008, there were no additional reports of ongoing mortality.




       A


       B




Figure 1: Two of the anchovy specimen collected on
January 8, 2008 in Potlatch. Note the hemorrhaging at
the bottom of the eye on specimen A, and on the
pectoral fin of specimen B.