Will there be a Hood Canal fish kill this year?

Lingcod from the 2006 Hood Canal fish kill event. Photo credit: Hood Canal Dissolved Oxygen Program

Fish kills in Hood Canal occur when hypoxic waters are rapidly upwelled to the surface, usually when seasonal southerly wind storms push surface waters aside to be replaced with less oxygenated water from below. The rapid upward movement of low oxygen water to the surface traps fish, suffocating them.

The abnormal weather and oceanic conditions which we've seen this year (the 'blob,' drought, etc.) have resulted in extreme hypoxia in Hood Canal. But these anomalies have also set up Hood Canal for early seasonal flushing from oceanic intrusions, which could replenish oxygen levels.

Fish kill risk depends on whether seasonal storms or complete flushing occur first, which is especially relevant at the moment with southerly winds expected in Hood Canal over the weekend. Which will win? Hopefully the fish!

Find out more from the Oceanic Remote Chemical Analyzer (ORCA) Fish Kill Advisory and follow real-time oxygen levels monitored in Hood Canal on NVS.

Dead ratfish from the 2010 Hood Canal fish kill event. Photo credit: Ron Figlar-Barnes