By The Canadian Press

Wind storms, viral outbreak possible causes for fish die-off in Okanagan Lake

Jul 18, 2016 | 3:56 PM

PENTICTON, B.C. — Warm water or possibly a viral outbreak are a few of the suspected causes for an ongoing fish die-off in Okanagan Lake in British Columbia’s southern Interior.

The Natural Resources Ministry says biologists are still working on a specific cause for the deaths of more than 1,000 kokanee, but recent wind storms may have been a factor.

Previous die-offs have been connected to storms that churn up the lake, sending warmer water deeper.

Sudden water temperatures can be deadly to kokanee.

The ministry says other recent fish deaths have been linked to a fish virus, and tissue samples have been taken for testing to determine if that is a factor.

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The government says the die-off isn’t severe enough to have a significant impact on the lake’s overall kokanee population.

Kokanee are a landlocked sockeye salmon and one of the most popular game fish in the province.

The Canadian Press