2 million fish found dead

Officials say they're investigating a large fish kill in the Chesapeake Bay but suspect cold weather killed them instead of problems with the water quality.

The Maryland Department of the Environment says an estimated 2 million fish have been reported dead from the Bay Bridge south to Tangier Sound.

The dead fish are mainly juvenile spot, with some juvenile croakers.

Agency spokeswoman Dawn Stoltzfus says bay water quality appears acceptable and biologists think "cold-water stress" is the likely cause of the fish kill. She says adult spot are susceptible to colder water and normally leave the upper bay by now.

Water temperatures plummeted in late December to near-record lows for that time of year, about 36 degrees.