June 6, 2014 — Larry Hajna of the NJDEP said a large number of dead menhaden began washing up at Sunset Beach and Higbee’s Beach Friday morning. He said the fish were also being seen on Cape May Point beaches but said the greatest concentration of fish was on township beaches.
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“The other situation is a large school of fish is chased into shallow water and they are so super concentrated they use up all the oxygen and can die off. But you have to remember, menhaden are bounteous in the ocean. It won’t harm their population,” he said.
Hajna said fish die-offs also occur in lakes, most often in the spring when there is more fertilizer input. He said there are also naturally occurring diseases that consume one type of fish.
According to Hajna, the problem on local beaches will rectify itself in a couple of days. He said the fish will washout naturally in next couple days. He said Lower Township was keeping an eye on the situation to see if they needed to remove any fish before the Escape the Cape Triathlon is held Sunday morning.
Read the full story at the Cape May Gazette