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Thousands of Fish Die in Icelandic Fjord

the daily dish More on PawNation: Fish and Marine, Herring, Iceland, Sad, Weird

By Paul Ciampanelli Feb 07, 2013

Brynjar Gauti/AP Photo

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Tens of thousands of dead herring have washed up on shore in Kolgrafafjordur, a small fjord in western Iceland, according to the Associated Press.
Brynjar Gauti/AP Photo

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Piles of the dead fish were scattered almost as far as the eye can see. It's not the first time this has happened as of recent, but the second time in two months.
Brynjar Gauti/AP Photo

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The herring are believed to have died due to a lack of oxygen. The construction of a landfill and a bridge in the area in 2004 may have contributed to the low oxygen levels.
Brynjar Gauti/AP Photo

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In addition to the already low oxygen in the Kolgrafafjordur waters, Johann Sigurjonsson, director of Iceland's Marine Research Institute, said that herring also tend to spend winters in large groups, which may have depleted the oxygen enough to kill the fish.
Brynjar Gauti/AP Photo

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There were 10,000 tons of the dead herring, an entire season's worth, according to Sigurjonsson. They would have been worth 1.25 billion kronur — almost $10 million.
Brynjar Gauti/AP Photo

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Next: Man Catches 3-Lb. Goldfish From Michigan Lake

Schoolchildren and volunteers are working to clean up the dead fish, which still can be salvaged and turned into animal feed.

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Charenelle

Wow!!!

February 07 2013 at 11:30 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply