A Fin Rot Disease of Marine and Euryhaline Fishes in the New York Bight

A fin rot disease reached epizootic proportions in 1967 among at least 22 species of marine and euryhaline fishes in the New York Bight and has continued to occur annually to the present time. Fin necrosis was the consistent external sign of the disease; other external pathological changes included skin hemorrhages, skin ulcers and, occasionally, blindness. Bluefish, summer flounder, winter flounder, and weakfish were the principal species affected. Results of these studies indicate a bacterial cause. Bacteria of three genera, Aeromonas, Vibrio and Pseudomonas are likely implicated. Similar epizootics among freshwater fishes have been associated with unsanitary conditions in aquaria and with water pollution in nature. The epizootic primary center, lower New York Harbor, is grossly polluted with sewage and industrial wastes. We suspect pollution had a role in the disease.