Has everyone seen a bunch of dead fish in New York? The situation is not uncommon, but it looks like "armageddon".
Despite the fact that the sight was depressing, and the smell was simply unbearable, the massive fish plague was not a sign of the near end of the world or terrible pollution of the water. Specialists of the New York Department of Water Protection believe that the fish itself is to blame, which turned out to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
And that's why …
Fleeing from the predatory bluefish, the flocks of the Atlantic Menhaden huddled in a dead end, where their own crowding led to death. Although the fish will not survive in the air, it still needs oxygen for breathing. The problem is that, in search of rescue, they swam into the Shinnekock Canal that connects the two bays. The water level in them is not the same, therefore, in order for the ships to move safely along the canal, a system of locks is used. When the sluices are closed, water cannot get out and the fish are trapped.
As a result, the fish suffered from oxygen starvation, and they all died. After the sluices were reopened the next morning, the dead fish entered the sea or were washed ashore by the surf. Many fishermen have taken advantage of the circumstances to collect as much Menhaden as possible, which is a popular live bait and is often used as bait for lobsters and sea bass. At one time, this fish was even used in industry - as a component for paints and cosmetics.
A similar incident happened in 2014 in Marina de Rei, California, when a huge flock of anchovies, supposedly fleeing predators, was trapped in a lock.