OMM Newsroom
Millions of fish died at a privately owned nuclear plant in Canada because of what the company called an “organization failure”, according to CBC News.
“Bruce Power” faces charges under the federal Fisheries Act and is due to appear in court on Nov. 24.
The fish, cold-sensitive gizzard shad, entered warm-water discharge at the company’s Lake Huron plant during a cold spell in southwestern Ontario, about 190 kilometres (118 miles) southwest of Toronto.
The shad became trapped against intake screens in such large numbers that one reactor had to be shut down and another was partially crippled, threatening the electrical grid during the prolonged cold snap.
The fish died in February and March 2025, and dead fish washed up along the shoreline for days.
By weight, the dead fish amounted to eight million, a figure 200 times above the federal limit. A crane was used to collect the shad and take them to a landfill.
“Bruce Power” acknowledged that the deaths resulted from an “organization failure” to act in the face of climate change.
The company could face fines of up to CAN$200,000 ($143,000).
“As this matter is before the courts, we cannot comment on how we intend to plead or provide additional commentary relating to the charges,” Megan Adams, “Bruce Power”’s director of corporate communications, wrote in an email to CBC News.
“Bruce Power” has spent $10 million on remedial measures, including sonar, improved barrier nets to deter fish, enhanced sound and light techniques, and artificial intelligence to track fish movements.
