UPDATED: The Environment Agency believes a lack of oxygen caused by the hot weather is to blame for the death of hundreds of fish in the Victoria Dock basin, but is conducting further tests to rule out pollution as a factor.
The fish were found floating on the surface of the dock, in east Hull, earlier this week.
Peter Stevenson, environment manager at the Environment Agency, said: "We are investigating reports of dead fish at Victoria Dock in Hull.
"We attended the dock at the weekend and on Monday, when we estimated that 1,600 fish may have died.
"The fish were in a freshwater pond behind the old dock gates. The pond is believed to be fed from two surface water drains. The fish in the pond are coarse fish, mainly roach and rudd.
"At this stage we believe that the fish died because of changes in oxygen levels within the pond, caused by the hot weather.
"As a precautionary measure, we have collected a water sample to check that the kill was not related to a pollution incident.
"Hot summer weather can cause problems for fish in any watercourse, as water levels and oxygen levels may fall."
Hull City Council posted a notice saying it was "aware of the problem". It later removed the dead fish.![VictoriaDock]()
INVESTIGATING: Hull City Council posted this notice. Picture: Bob Carter
Bob Carter took photographs of the dead fish and was shocked by what he saw. He said: "It is great to see wild fish in the basin so it was very sad to see all that. "I'm not one to exaggerate but there were hundreds floating on the surface in different batches." Anyone who sees dead fish or fish in apparent distress should report it to the Environment Agency's incident hotline, on 0800 807060.• The Mail will update this story as soon as new information becomes available.
INVESTIGATING: Hull City Council posted this notice. Picture: Bob CarterBob Carter took photographs of the dead fish and was shocked by what he saw. He said: "It is great to see wild fish in the basin so it was very sad to see all that. "I'm not one to exaggerate but there were hundreds floating on the surface in different batches." Anyone who sees dead fish or fish in apparent distress should report it to the Environment Agency's incident hotline, on 0800 807060.• The Mail will update this story as soon as new information becomes available.
