If fish do not make it to a refuge in deeper, more temperature stable water during cold weather, they may die when water temperatures reach a certain threshold. After the first fish kill was reported in the Lower Laguna Madre, Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) biologists began the process of assessing kills across multiple bay systems on the coast.
Impacts to Fish from Feb. 2021 Event
An estimated minimum of 3.8 million fish were killed on the Texas coast during the Feb. 2021 freeze event. This fish kill consisted of at least 61 species. Non-recreational species contributed to 91% of the total mortality in numbers of fish. This includes species like Silver Perch, Hardhead Catfish, Pinfish, Bay Anchovy and Striped Mullet. While not sought after by most anglers, non-game fish are ecologically important, providing food for larger game fish as well as adding to the overall diversity of Texas Bays. Recreationally important game species accounted for the other 9% of the total. Of that 9%
Nearly 4 million fish killed by winter storm along Texas coast
By Carolina Sanchez article
AUSTIN - Nearly four million fish along the Texas Coast were killed during the historic winter storm last month.
At least 3.8 million fish were killed, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The fish kill consisted of at least 61 species, which included non-recreational species like Silver Perch, Hardhead Catfish, Pinfish, Bay Anchovy and Striped Mullet. They accounted for 91% of the total dead.
According to TWPD, non-game fish are ecologically important, providing food for larger game fish as well as adding to the overall diversity of Texas Bays.
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TPR s Jerry Clayton recently spoke with Shane Bonnot, advocacy director for the Texas Coastal Conservation Association, about the widespread fish kills on the Texas Coast during the recent winter storm.
Jerry Clayton: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is expected to release their report next week on the massive number of fish deaths that occurred along the Texas coast during the recent winter storm. How widespread is the impact along the Texas coast?
Shane Bonnot: The whole coast was affected, but for the large parts of Sabine in Galveston Bay, didn t see significant fish kills. However, when you get to east Matagorda Bay is when you really start to see the effects. And as you move down the coast, those effects are amplified. And certainly the lower Laguna Madre, it is quite evident that we had a significant event here.