Scientists Take To The Ocean To Learn About Fish 'Dead Zones'

Scientists Take To The Ocean To Learn About Fish 'Dead Zones'

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Story Published: Aug 4, 2006 at 3:01 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 8:32 AM PDT

By Bryan Johnson

OCEAN SHORES - Researchers say it could take hundreds of trips and measurements to determine if a "dead zone" for fish is appearing off the Washington north coast and how severe the problem is.

Dead zones and fish kills have been reported off central Oregon for the past five years. Crab fishermen in some areas off the Washington coast have reported finding dead crabs in their pots.

The dead zones are caused by upwelling and resultant oxygen depletion.

A thousand dead fish or more washed up last month near Taholah, north of Ocean Shores. Officials say the most disturbing fact was they were mid column fish, primarily anchovies. In other areas, the dead zones have affected bottom fish.

Mid-column kills, particularly if they are repetitive are considered more troublesome.

For locals and for fishermen, the big question is: What's happening out there?

KOMO 4 News went to La Push to ride along with research scientist. Things seem normal, the fish loving pelicans are still there; fishermen report catches down but many were unaware of the fish deaths to the South of La Push at Taholah.

Scientists headed to sea looking for reasons fish are dying, but don't expect to find solutions.

"We can't do anything to stop it," said David Kirner, the chief research technician told KOMO 4 News. "We want to learn more."

We head out until the water is 100 feet deep, then deploy instruments to measure oxygen, dirt and salt.

Perched on the stern, Kirner lowers them to the ocean floor. He'll get readings every second.

Thursday, everything was fine. But this is one moment in time. Kirner says the scientist will have to take hundreds of readings to get a good idea of what is happening.

It may take a thousand trips to get a picture. But there are those pictures of fish deaths.

So, we asked the Al Gore question: "Could this be global warming?" The boat skipper's answer: "We don't know. We're not there yet!"

Andy Palmer says a small net may have a more immediate impact on consumers and others. It's collecting plankton, algae.

They'll be tested by the National Marine Fisheries Labs to determine if they are toxic. Readings at sea could signal future trouble on the beach. The idea is that collecting such data at sea may allow what amounts to a plankton or toxic algae forecast for the beaches.

"They know the wind direction and the current, so they might be able to get a week or two warning," Palmer said.

The benefit: harvests of potentially toxic clams and oyster could be stopped before rather than after people start getting sick.

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