What to Know
- The cause of the die-off is under investigation
- Earlier this year, hundreds of thousands of fish floated to the water in a similar die-off in New Jersey's Raritan Bay
- In that instance, officials said that the fish were likely chased into the bay by bluefish or skates
Thousands of dead fish were spotted floating in the waterways off of one Suffolk County town on Monday.
Chopper 4 footage from the Shinnecock Canal off of Hampton Bays shows scores of dead bunker fish floating near the water's edge and in marinas. In one dinghy, a pair of workers can be seen scooping the fish out of the water.
State officials said they think predators chased the school of fish into the canal. Then, because the water was inundated with fish, many of them died from lack of oxygen. Officials are taking water samples to confirm the theory.
Earlier this year, hundreds of thousands of fish floated to the water in a similar die-off in New Jersey's Raritan Bay. In that instance, officials said that the fish were likely chased into the bay by bluefish or skates, and once there they were killed off by low levels of dissolved oxygen in the water.
Officials have said there is no risk to the public from the water or the dead fish.
Fishermen and marina workers in the area were stunned by the sight. Fishermen Mike Caruso and Jamie Humel started scooping up fish into their boat after seing them popping up in the water.
"I put 2,500 in the boat in 15 minutes," Caruso said.
Earlier this year, hundreds of thousands of fish floated to the water in a similar die-off in New Jersey's Raritan Bay. In that instance, officials said that the fish were likely chased into the bay by bluefish or skates, and once there they were killed off by low levels of dissolved oxygen in the water.
