Report Marine Fish Kills
Mortality events, or fish kills, are not unusual for some marine fish species, and particularly for fish that swim in large schools. There are various naturally occurring causes that are typically responsible for these events which may include low dissolved oxygen, changing environmental conditions, and pathogens.
Report observations of a fish kill to DEC's Marine Life Incident Report online survey. For questions or more information about fish kills, contact [email protected] or call 631-444-0714 for marine waters or 845-256-3199 on the Hudson River.
DEC recommends treating fish kill events the same as you would with any dead, wild animal and avoid collecting or handling these fish. If you need to come in contact with dead fish to clean them up, make sure to wear appropriate protective equipment, including gloves.
Marine Fish Species
Several saltwater fish species support both New York's renowned recreational fishing industry and economically significant commercial fisheries. Some of the largest and famed fish species found in the ocean are the diverse collection of sharks. Sharks are completely cartilaginous fish, which means they have no true-bones, compared to more familiar fish that have complete skeletons.
Learn more about the most commonly occurring fish species below: