The dead fish were so-called noses, which, as schooling fish, stay in calm water areas in winter and are comparatively easy prey for cormorants during this time. Cormorants hunt in shoals and are often successful with this strategy. In addition to the direct injuries caused by hunting, the stress that the hunting behavior of the birds causes the fish can also lead to their subsequent death, according to the CVUA.
Investigation results are available: Fish kill on the River Enz in early January has a natural cause
According to the current state of knowledge, the fish mortality in the River Enz at the beginning of January has a natural cause and is not due to water pollution. The test results of the water samples did not reveal any abnormalities. Based on the traces of injury on the fish, which was examined by the Stuttgart Chemical and Veterinary Investigation Office (CVUA), hunting by cormorants is suspected.
