Toxic spill likely killed fish found in Ottawa River, necropsies suggest

A toxic spill is the most likely cause behind the discovery of hundreds of dead fish in the Ottawa River earlier this month, necropsies suggest.

Residents began noticing thedead fishin the water and along the shore of the rivernear Cumberland in Ottawa's eastend.

Within the past week, a wildlife health centre in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., conducted necropsies on 12 fish carcasses of various species found in the river.

They found no sign of infectious disease, leading to the conclusionthe fish were exposed to a toxic agent that was either accidentally or purposely dumped into the water, according to Stphane Lair, director of the Centre qubcois sur la sant des animaux sauvage.

Officials believethe dead fish originated in the Du Livre River in Quebec, which flows into theOttawa River atMasson-Angers, just across the from Cumberland. Only a water analysis taken at the time of the incident could have identifiedthe toxic substance, Lair told Radio-Canada.

No more dead fish have been found along the edge of Du Livre River, according to Quebec's Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks. In a news release issued Thursday, the ministry said a team of biologists and technicians revisited the area on Wednesday, but found the dead fish had "nearly all disappeared."

That indicates the incident was "sudden and circumstantial," the ministry said.

The Ottawa Riverkeeper is asking anyone who saw unusual activity on or near the water in the Masson-Angers area on July 8 or 9to call the pollution hotline.