Did you see/hear about the "Zombie" Alligator die-off they had down south caused by high-levels of certain chemicals found in fish? Long story short, after years of farming and agriculture, run-off was changing the PH and chemistry of the water of local lakes, and eventually most of the fish died off except a few species, one of which I think happened to be the Gizzard Shad which had large amounts of a chemical in it's body, naturally (Iodine or Iodide or tyrosine or something like that ) and the Gators ate exclusively these fish and were suffering from an overdose on w/e chemical was present in these fish they were eating.
All in all, it was all our fault lol figures. Humans seem to ruin everything we touch sometimes.
Yes and No. The dead fish DO benefit the wildlife who scavenge and take easy meals, but I have to wonder just like Humans, how much can they actually eat before the PCBs, Mercury and other contaminants begin affecting hem as well. As stated, smell and being unsightly are of course a concern, however the decaying fish certainly add nutrients back into the soil, water, etc.....the issue is that TOO MUCH at once will eventually become toxic and pollute more than it helps. It has to be small amounts frequently and in moderation, large amounts at once = bad
We do have commercial fisherman who specifically target Bottom-Feeders, the show ironically called "Bottom Feeders" airs on Sportman's channel and Outdoor channel. That is how they make their living.
