MDWFP Investigating Sardis Fish Kill

JACKSON – Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) fisheries biologists investigated a fish kill reported on September 17, at Sardis Lake.  After evaluating the fish kill in several areas of the lake, biologists determined that white bass comprised over 99 percent of the dead fish.

Two previous white bass die-offs occurred in Sardis Lake in recent years and both were attributed to columnaris disease caused by naturally occurring bacteria. “White bass are a ‘live fast, die young’ fish,” notes MDWFP fisheries biologist Keith Meals. “They rarely exceed four years old and are subject to many infections.”

MDWFP biologists will continue to monitor Sardis Lake fish populations to determine impacts of the kill.