Hundreds of thousands of dead fish wash ashore near Galveston, Tx in massive fish kill
August 14, 2012 – GALVESTON, TX – Hundreds of thousands of dead fish have washed up on the beach in Galveston, where crews went to work Monday to remove the dead fish. Peter Davis of the Galveston Island Beach Patrol said Sunday the small shad fish likely were killed by low oxygen levels in the Gulf of Mexico. Davis estimated hundreds of thousands of fish have died. Galveston County health officials said the water is fine for beachgoers. Biologist Steven Mitchell with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said calm conditions and summer heat may have contributed to the fish kill. He said there’s a possibility of a dead zone in the water off Galveston. Though testing is expected this week, some officials are already blaming the fish kill on red tide. –KWTX