Millions of fish have perished this winter due to entrapment in the water

Millions of fish have perished this winter due to entrapment in the water intake system of the Bruce Power nuclear facility.

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The Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) estimates that between 3.5 and 4.5 million gizzard shad were ensnared and subsequently died after being drawn to the warm water released from the plant's discharge channels.

In a statement, the Environment Office of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation expressed concerns regarding the impact of this incident on the aquatic ecosystem at the Bruce site.

Bruce Power has confirmed that a significant number of fish have died after becoming trapped in their intake system since mid-January. The situation was serious enough for the company to temporarily shut down one of its nuclear reactors for a week and a half last month. Bruce Power has reported that the fish have been cleared from the system and that Unit 2 has resumed operations.

The company is still investigating the precise causes of the fish die-off but notes that they are not alone in this issue.

According to a Bruce Power news release, "Gizzard shad have been sighted along the shoreline from the Sauble River in the north to Goderich in the south, suggesting this may be a population-level event. Large quantities of gizzard shad have been noted in Lake Huron, particularly around Bruce Power, likely due to their rapid reproduction and the warmer lake temperatures experienced in recent years."

Gizzard shad are inherently vulnerable to cold water conditions and can suffer mass die-offs in natural environments.

Both Bruce Power and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation are collaborating with federal authorities to investigate the cause of the fish kill and to implement measures to prevent future occurrences.

Additionally, both organizations have reported a number of dead birds located just north of the nuclear facility in Baie-du-Dor. The company announced that the birds have been dispatched for testing to investigate potential conditions such as botulism or avian influenza.

Bruce Power stated that the Ministry of Environment, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, and the Ministry of Natural Resources are informed and involved in the inquiry regarding the causes of the deceased fish and waterfowl.

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