The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment provided an update Thursday on investigations into recent incidents of fish mortalities in Island streams.
The department received a final report from the Environment Canada laboratory in Moncton Thursday afternoon on analysis of water samples collected during the initial investigation into the incident of fish mortalities in Wilmot River July 10. Approximately 4,500 dead fish were collected over a five-kilometre stretch in the upper end of the Wilmot River from Norboro to the area of Miller's Pond in Kelvin Grove.
Spokesperson Bruce Raymond, of the department's Water Resources Division, said lab results indicate the insecticide azinphos-methyl was detected in high concentrations in water samples taken from pools of standing water at the edge of fields adjacent to the stream. The department is still awaiting results of sediment and fish tissue samples from the July 10 incident in the Wilmot River.
In another incident, Raymond said the department is investigating fish mortalities at Huntley River in West Prince. A local watershed crew discovered the dead fish and notified the department Wednesday afternoon. The area affected is above Gordon's Pond in Huntley.
"To date, investigators have collected 90 dead brook trout in a 1.5-kilometre section; however, there were also live fish seen in the same area," he said.
Raymond said temperature and dissolved oxygen readings were within the normal range. Water, sediment and fish samples were collected and sent to the Environment Canada laboratory for analysis and dead fish were taken to the Atlantic Veterinary College for autopsies. Department staff were continuing to investigate areas further upstream Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment, Chester Gillan said the department's Investigation and Enforcement Section is inspecting fields throughout the province to ensure compliance with buffer zone legislation.
"Enforcement officers surveyed some of the Island's river systems by helicopter Wednesday, including those where we have had fish mortalities this year," the Minister said. "They have identified a number of areas where there appear to be violations and are continuing to investigate those cases."
Minister Gillan said where a buffer zone violation is noted, the landowner may be charged and/or ordered to remove rows of crop to bring the field into compliance with the legislation.