Fish kill reported in Montrose River

On Friday, Aug. 28, 2020, Conservation Officers received a call from John Lane, Cascumpec Bay Watershed Association coordinator, reporting a fish kill in Alma on the Montrose River. Justice and Public Safety Conservation Officers, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Environment, Water and Climate Change staff attended.

The fish kill covers from Marchbank pond to the Confederation Trail in Alma. Just over 2,000 dead Brook Trout were collected Friday and Saturday and a couple hundred more were not able to be collected.

No cause has been determined. Samples have been collected and sent for analysis. The incident remains under investigation.

This section of river has had three reported fish kills since 2010, occurring July 13, 2010, Aug. 18, 2017, and Aug. 28, 2020.

Clean up is complete and the Department of Environment, Water and Climate Change is assessing the area to determine next steps to help the fish population recover.

Media contact:
Leanne Ritchie
Department of Environment, Water and Climate Change
902 314-0134
lpritchie@gov.pe.ca