New fish kill hits Prince Edward Island

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CHARLOTTETOWN, Prince Edward Island, July 7 (UPI) -- Canadian wildlife officials are investigating the cause of a fish kill in a river on western Prince Edward Island.

Dozens of fish were found dead along the Trout River Thursday night, CBC News reported.

The fish kill is believed to have been caused by heavy rain Wednesday night that washed soil into the river, but the extent is not yet known.

"I just can't say what extent we are looking at so far," said provincial freshwater biologist Rosanne MacFarlane. "The water is extremely red [with soil]. There's no way of knowing right now what caused this kill. Water samples are being collected. Fish samples have been collected as well. And those things will be taken to laboratories and analyzed.

"Once the water recedes and clears up, that will be when we see the extent," she said.

The recent fish kill came after tens of thousands of fish in the Trout River were destroyed last year, officials said.

Two farmers were charged for last year's fish kill for not providing enough space between their fields and waterways. One pleaded guilty and the charges were dismissed against the second.

"Any river, no matter how good it is, can only stand so much of this," said Dale Cameron, who discovered this year's fish kill.