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About 21,000 fish die at UC Davis research centre

The UC Davis Center for Aquatic Biology and Aquaculture, or CABA said that it is “grieving the loss” of its 21,000 fish at its land-based research facility due to chlorine exposure. 

CABA is involved in research initiatives on bioenergetics and environmental stressors on fish species, which included green and white sturgeon, as well as endangered Chinook salmon. The research centre said in a statement on Aug. 11 that it is investigating where the process failed and are notifying regulatory and funding agencies, and collaborators on the incident. 

The statement also said that though there are many other facilities inUC Davis that conducts aquatic research, these were not impacted by this situation. However, they will evaluate risk at those facilities as well.

“We share the grief of the faculty, staff and students who worked to care for, study and conserve these animals,” the statement said. “We know that many researchers, regulatory agencies, Native American tribes and other partners trust us to care for their aquatic species.  We will work hard to earn that trust by conducting a thorough review of our facilities, holding ourselves accountable for what happened, and taking steps to prevent it from happening ever again.”