It was an unfortunate event for the fish that perished on that day, but through their death will come life. Fish kills such as this are a natural event. Yes, it took place in a man-made canal, but they occur around the world in naturally occurring “dead ends” (creeks, marshes, etc.). And although it seems wasteful, it is a windfall for many organisms. Mortality can be very high for young of the year animals such as gulls, osprey, eagles, raccoons, foxes, etc. Mom and Dad are no longer there to supply them with nourishment, and as winter approaches food becomes difficult to find. Additionally, the caloric intake needed to stay warm increases as the temperature drops. Meaning they need to find far more food in the coming months than they needed to find during the summer months.
As devastating of an event this fish kill was, within twenty-four hours it was back to business as normal for the marine life of the Shinnecock Canal and many organisms now have a huge advantage going into the first winter of their life.
Editors note: For more of Chris Paparo’s work check out his bio below and follow him on Facebook and Instagram. We are thrilled to be able to feature some of his work.
