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Karl Burkart

Government denies BP oil involved in record fish kill

The largest fish kill in living memory, including a dead whale from the Macando Well region, occurs just days after a massive tide of BP oil hits Louisiana waterways. The Dept. of Wildlife denies a connection.

Fri, Sep 17 2010 at 12:14 AM EST
 54

Dead fish kill Louisiana SAD: Massive fish kills that extend as far as the eye can see. (Photo: Billy Nungesser/WWL)
My sister lives in a small town in Louisiana, and while the rest of the world may have moved on from the BP oil spill story, she and her neighbors have not. In the South, the local news is packed with firsthand accounts of fisherman pulling in nets of dead, oil-soaked crabs, recreational boaters bumping into dead dolphins, and (pictured above) massive fish kills that extend as far as the eye can see.
 
The fish kill in Bayou Chaland last week occurred only days after an oil-soaked tide hit the marshes, but the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries declared that there is no connection, and that the kill resulted from unseasonably warm weather. 
 
The thing is, its always unseasonably warm in Louisiana in September. And while government officials are quick to point out that fish kills are common in Louisiana, none of those officials would deny the unusual characteristics of this event. 
 
Fish kills, when they happen, generally consist of a hundred or so of one particular species. In this kill the numbers are in the millions, consisting of nearly every known species — from crabs and stingrays to eels and myriad fish species. Even a dead sperm whale (from a resident population that was said to have lived near the Macondo Well location) was found in the water.
 
Also on MNN: 10 animals at risk of extinction from the Gulf oil spill
 
From what my sister says, one of the most common questions being asked in the small communities impacted by the oil spill is, "How stupid do they think we are?"
 
BP and the government officials who seem to be covering for them would have us believe that the worst of the oil spill is over, but it doesn't take a genius to put two and two together. It will be decades before the marsh ecosystems of Louisiana will truly recover. So let's stop pretending it's not BP's fault.
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Related Topics: Environmental Research, Gulf Oil Spill, Oil & Gas, Water Pollution

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anonymous
toothmaster123 09/23/2010 22:33 PM

http://www.bild.de/BILD/news/2010/09/16/oelpest-golf-von-mexiko/fischste...

click the link, then the arrows on the sides of the pics. if these don't disturb anybody, I don't know what will...

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anonymous
:D 09/21/2010 17:52 PM

SERIOUS.... More

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anonymous
Casey 09/22/2010 14:25 PM

Are you stupid?

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anonymous
Two-Tone Tony 09/20/2010 23:03 PM

With a Muslim president dedicated to the destruction of America, we are doomed. By the time this bloated, heathen population awakes it will be over. It is already too late. Should have prayed BEFORE you all voted... So long fools!

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anonymous
Mustang Sally '64 09/21/2010 00:19 AM

Doesn't anyone remember the words of Obama's longtime pastor and good friend, screaming "God damn, America!" "God damn, America!" ?? That was enough to kill my vote right there!

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anonymous
Casey 09/22/2010 14:33 PM

God you people are crazy.
What the hell does our president have to do with a BP OIL SPILL?!
God I hate all of you idiots.
I can't wait to leave America because of the stupid people like you who just sit around whining about things you hear hot women on Fox blather about.

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anonymous
Childlike 09/22/2010 16:58 PM

and we can't wait for all you people that use God's Holy name in vain to leave or die also!

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anonymous
Elder 10/02/2010 11:29 AM

That's because you reject reality and cling to old ideologies that have NO MERIT in logic...I'm also glad Atheists scored the highest out of all Christians and Jews. See, we're educated enough NOT to buy in to fictional stories of any sort.

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anonymous
National Whistleblower Allen Carlton 09/20/2010 15:32 PM

Government denies the American Holocaust too. http://www.scribd.com/doc/17286921/The-America-Betrayal

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anonymous
kevin 09/20/2010 07:30 AM

BP's a liar! The worst of the oil spill is not even over until maybe decades from now!

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anonymous
Comustata 09/18/2010 22:54 PM

Is it just me or are there NO fish in the photo titled dead fish as far as the eye can see?

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anonymous
Tim Campbell 09/19/2010 01:24 AM

The photo looks like a road or gravel, but it it fish floating on the water, the "cracks" are bare spots of the river water.

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anonymous
alex 09/18/2010 01:44 AM

but some input from, hmmm i dont know, a qualified scientist and not some blogger would have lent credibility to this rambling idiot. and thank you to the crazy *** lunatic above, we all know the government is a huge heap of b.s, but "blah blah blah you will all die" sounds like the kid who was beat up in highschool for playing some D&D

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anonymous
La.Catahoulachick 09/22/2010 11:18 AM

The qualified scientists your hyping up, have just now, today finally decided to "check out" what is killing these fish. After the 4th fish kill! Yes they happen down here naturally, but not quite so often. Not to mention that there are so many different types of fish and animals being found in these fish kills.
But you sound like such an expert yourself, why don't you come on down. We can serve you up some of those lovely crabs that are black on the inside and you can tell us how safe they.... More

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anonymous
EJLima 09/18/2010 01:33 AM

GOD DAMN Satan, the Bush/Obama regime, the IRS, BP, and

GOD forgive ME and HAVE MERCY ON ME !

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anonymous
Pete 09/20/2010 20:08 PM

The Good Lord is soon on His way. We are all living/dealing with these crooks. We praise the Lord for His patience. I would have pulled the plug on this slowly rising toilet bowl long ago. See ya' in Heaven!!

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anonymous
Anonymous 09/17/2010 22:59 PM

oil is black too. wow, what isn't black people's fault these days?

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anonymous
La.Catahoulachick 09/22/2010 11:11 AM

Your an idiot!

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anonymous
CAROL 09/17/2010 22:25 PM

I have noticed that as in all things,that have anything to dowith the goverment,
follow the money. The money that is slipped to local goverment agents,all the way
to federal elected officals,running for office is very expensive!! We have been sold
to who ever has the price,they have sold most everything,now they are selling our
food supplies,fish,grains veggies heck just about any food product.Wait in few years
they'll tell us we must not get china mad,or they cut off our.... More

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anonymous
ManToy 09/17/2010 16:47 PM

I believe that black people are the caues. Tt seems that they coach these fish up the stream, because there to lazy or to poor to fish in the Gulf. I believe that all black people should not be allowed to fish in LA.

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anonymous
Pete 09/20/2010 21:28 PM

where you are heading in the afterlife will be very black...aside from all the flames!

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anonymous
billy 09/17/2010 19:51 PM

your a dumb *** !!!!

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anonymous
Grammar nazi 09/17/2010 21:20 PM

It's "you're a dumb *** !!!!" as in "you are".

Hilarious comment about this being the fault of black people. Is racism the new "black"?. Truth is, it is the fault of all people.

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anonymous
Lil Pixie 09/17/2010 16:40 PM

Just re-read my comment...sorry all for the horrible spelling...multi-tasking a bit too much today! lol

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anonymous
ManParts2 09/17/2010 16:36 PM

My ManParts have enlarged by almost 4 inches bringing the total to 16. I guess I just like dead fish

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anonymous
MarvinDinkleson 09/17/2010 15:50 PM

My manparts have shrunk by at least 3 erect inches since the BP catastrophe. I am looking for a lawyer to take my case.

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anonymous
effnc 09/18/2010 10:20 AM

Whatever is left, minus those three inches, is it worth your while for someone taking your case,if you cannot even put a handle on it?

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anonymous
sloppy 2nds 09/17/2010 15:59 PM

If that has been going on for longer than 4 hours call your doctor

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anonymous
Bob 09/17/2010 15:42 PM

This is what you get when you mess with mother nature. Don't worry though, after we're all long gone, the earth will be fine.

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anonymous
Trail Trash 09/17/2010 15:39 PM

Fish kills are common this time of year. I know it might come as a shock to some that Mother Nature can allow animals to die off in such large numbers, but it happens. The Louisiana Dept of Wildlife and Fisheries has determined that a low tide trapped the fish in the shallow bayou with high water temperatures and the oxygen became depleted.

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anonymous
Anonymous 09/17/2010 15:51 PM

Actually, BP worker, fish kills are common. A whale got trapped in a Bayou? Hmmmm never heard of a whale anywhere near a bayou. Have you, Trailer Trash?

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anonymous
Trail Trash 09/17/2010 16:25 PM

...a dead sperm whale found floating 77-miles south of the Macondo well in oil-free waters that was covered with shark bites

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anonymous
Z 09/17/2010 15:44 PM

Do us a favor and actually read the article before you open your mouth.

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anonymous
Anonymous 09/17/2010 15:27 PM

People for what ever reason do not care about the Gulf of Mexico. Or is it that they are too comfy? Or too lazy? Where are the voices of concern? Why does it get less coverage then Lindsey Lohan? This is a real situation that deserves more than a little nod of recognition from our Country. As soon as BP spent millions on a PR campaign with sweet, sappy music and local BP officials waving their connection with the locals -everyone in this country sat back and said "oh good, everything is.... More

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anonymous
Tyler Durden 09/17/2010 15:52 PM

The United States has got some of the dumbest people in the world. I want you to know that we know that.

-Ted Turner

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anonymous
Open Source Book Project 09/17/2010 15:25 PM

http://www.opensourcebookproject.org - looking to fill a book up with photos from the residents of these areas post BP spill. 100% of the money raised will be contributed to a renewable energy project in a small, rural area.

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anonymous
Hellscreamgold 09/17/2010 15:15 PM

*** "How stupid do they think we are?" ***

Well, I work with plenty of people from Louisiana...and if they are representative of the population, pretty damn stupid.

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anonymous
Tyler Durden 09/17/2010 15:53 PM

The United States has got some of the dumbest people in the world. I want you to know that we know that.

-Ted Turner

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anonymous
anonymous 09/17/2010 15:32 PM

They might not have the smartest population in America but I will tell you this- 1/3 of the fish consumed in this Country is from the Gulf of Mexico. It is not just a local problem. Your comment is arrogant and ignorant.

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anonymous
Anonymous 09/17/2010 15:39 PM

but funny!!

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anonymous
bullsballs 09/17/2010 15:08 PM

still think the worst is over? as long as our government remains as it is, we the people are getting screwed royally! because the elites think they ARE royalty! time to kick *** and take from them what belongs to the people, the power, and money is their power!

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anonymous
spiral 09/17/2010 15:58 PM

Even if they were on the level of Royalty, they are no more or less human than we are. They need the same resources we do on this planet to live.

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anonymous
EVOO 09/17/2010 14:56 PM

We have trashed the gulf forever. The 'Water' the comes out of the delta of the Miss. has passed(pissed) through 7 people before it gets there. The only reason there are fish and such still living down there is that mother nature is resilient. Now there is scapegoat in BP, they got cash. Suddenly there is passion? No it’s the cash. Take the $ away and the numbers of hurt drop off. We got hundreds of people signing up for fishing licenses in record numbers, just so they can claim.... More

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anonymous
E Dog 09/17/2010 14:49 PM

My God, I thought that was a picture of concrete!?! It took me several moments to realize that it was actually dead fish packed side by side. Absolutely horrific.

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anonymous
Matt 09/17/2010 16:49 PM

I did the exact same thing, I thought those lines were cracks in concrete. Then as I re-read the headline and took another look at the picture I was taken aback. Crazy picture to say the least... and people are saying this is normal?

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anonymous
Brian 09/17/2010 14:06 PM

This article seems like it was written by a highschool freshman. It is entirely opinionated and lacking any facts! Now don't get me wrong, I do think oil is at least partially to blame (and more likely the only cause) for the increased deaths of these animals, but learn how to argue your point or you end up sounding like an idiot even when you're right.

You say it's "unreasonably warm" in Louisiana... hmm how about saying how much warmer the water temp is than it was in past years??More

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Momof2
Momof2 09/17/2010 13:43 PM

I've lived in the South for a long time and probably 8 of the last 10 Septembers have been "unseasonably warm" But I don't remember any fish dying because of it.

completely bogus explanation

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anonymous
David from MS 09/17/2010 13:15 PM

"Unseasonably warm weather"? Next we'll be claiming that it's dry in the desert because of "unseasonably few rain storms." It'd truly depressing and wrong that government officials are siding with a corporate giant (that's not even American!) to pretend this is their fault.

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anonymous
David again 09/17/2010 13:17 PM

to pretend this ISN'T their fault, rather.

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anonymous
Angels Messages 09/17/2010 14:59 PM

I am sad about this whole mess that we have gotten our selves into as american . it is so very sad and we as humans need to find a way to do something. i am sad for her sister and yet sad for all of us. if we don't work this out together, come together and fixed this problem , who no's what will be coming next?? just sad....

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