GREEN BAY, Wis.— The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources warned fishermen not to touch any dead or sick fish they see in the Fox River or Bay of Green Bay.
The warning comes after hundreds of dead were discovered floating down the river. Jason Breeggemann, the Wisconsin DNR’s Green Bay area fisheries biologist, said the first sightings of dead fish were reported June 18.
“People have had dead fish wash up on their shores out on the bay as far north as southern Door County, so there’s significant numbers of dead fish out there,” said Breeggemann/
He said the department tested the river water as soon as reports first started coming in. Results showed no abnormalities.
The next step was to collect samples of the dead fish and send them to a lab in Madison, Wis., test for pathogens. He said the Wisconsin DNR hopes to learn if there’s a bacterial or viral explanation for the die-off.
“The vast majority we’ve seen [die] have been channel catfish,” Breeggemann said. “We have documented a few freshwater drum sheepshead, as well as a few common carp.”
Spencer McKinzie is one of many fishermen along the Fox River who said they’re concerned.
“Seems very odd. This is usually a very healthy fishing system. I work right on the river here, so it’s very odd to see dead fish floating. Not something that I usually see,” McKinzie said.
Kip Collis said he wants the Wisconsin DNR to find some answers soon, so he can get back to fishing as normal.
“I love to fish. It’s one of my biggest hobbies. Seeing all these dead fish float through here is just a big problem for the area,” Collis said.
Breeggemann asked for anyone who sees dying or dead fish to contact him with an exact location or GPS location so he can collect a sample. He can be reached at jason.breeggemann@wisconsin.gov or (920) 662-5480.