Dive Brief:
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Construction of the new Tappan Zee Bridge over the Hudson River in New York could be killing Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon, which are endangered species.
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The environmental group Riverkeeper on Thursday asked the National Marine Fisheries Service to investigate, claiming 100 of the fish, which date back to pre-historic times, have died since bridge construction began in 2012. By comparison, the group said just six deaths were reported to the state Department of Environmental Conservation between 2009 and 2011.
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Officials of the bridge project have said it is making an effort to minimize fish injuries and deaths by using underwater air pockets called "bubble curtains" to reduce shock waves caused by construction. Riverkeeper has called for the bridge project to double those devices or place cages over boat propellers so the fish won't get caught in them.
Dive Insight:
But New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said no sturgeon deaths have been "definitively attributed" to the construction of the bridge, which involves 150 vessels.
Riverkeeper said the dead fish, including many that have been cut in half or otherwise severed, appear to have been hit by vessels.
The federal permit issued for the bridge allows two of each fish species can be killed during the $3.9 billion construction.