Why are the fish dying?
Low oxygen levels are the most common reason for fish kills. In Florida, this most commonly occurs in the fall and summer. When the weather is hot, water is not able to hold as much dissolved oxygen (DO) for the fish to breathe. Sudden drops in oxygen caused by dying algal blooms are common in summer, as bacteria use up all the oxygen while breaking down the dead algae. Couple this with already low DO levels, and fish can die quickly. Fish kills in fall, usually in October, are caused by the sudden change in weather that causes lakes to mix (turnover), bringing up poorly oxygenated water from the depths. A much more rare cause of fish kills is a bloom of golden algae, which release a toxin that suffocates fish. As the name suggests, golden algae are not green, and the blooms are generally not visible. A lake management professional will try to determine the cause of your fish kill in order to try to prevent future occurrence.
