For World Press Freedom Day, with its theme on the impact of AI in journalism, ChatGPT wrote its version of a GCM article from earlier this year on the on a mullet fish kill in Gulf Shores the week after the historic snow fall recorded across Baldwin County. The ChatGPT response originally came with hyperlinks to sources for articles but were removed for print. The prompt for the article was "Write a newspaper article on a mullet fish kill in Gulf Shores this year."

Gulf Shores, AL — January 2025
A rare and unsettling event unfolded along Alabama's Gulf Coast in January 2025, as thousands of mullet fish perished in shallow canals and backwaters following an unprecedented winter storm. The cold snap, which brought record low temperatures and even snow to the region, led to a significant fish kill, raising concerns among local residents and wildlife experts alike.

UNPRECEDENTED COLD SNAP

Winter Storm Enzo, which struck on January 20-21, 2025, brought record low temperatures and record snowfalls—some up to 13 inches—across most of southern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, and southern Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle. For many, it was an opportunity that only comes once every 20-30 years—a winter playground wonderland! But sadly, it also came at a high cost for our inland coastal fisheries.

The Alabama Marine Resources Division reported that the prolonged period of freezing weather led to the death of thousands of fish, primarily mullet, in local waterways. Colonel Scott Bannon, director of Alabama's Marine Resources Division, noted that the cold temperatures caused fish to die in shallow areas where they couldn't escape to deeper, warmer waters. The decaying carcasses have left behind a strong odor and have become a temporary food source for local scavengers.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

While the immediate aftermath has been unpleasant, experts believe the long-term ecological impact will be minimal. Colonel Bannon stated that such fish kills are not uncommon during extended periods of freezing weather. However, he emphasized that if such events were to occur repeatedly throughout the season, it could pose a more significant threat to the local ecosystem.

COMMUNITY RESPONSE

Local authorities have been working to address the situation by removing the dead fish from affected areas. Despite the challenges posed by the fish kill, the community has shown resilience. Residents and visitors continue to enjoy the area's natural beauty, and the annual Flora-Bama Mullet Toss, held in late April, remains a highlight of the Gulf Shores social calendar.

As Gulf Shores recovers from this unusual event, the community remains hopeful that the region's waterways will return to their vibrant state, supporting the diverse marine life that defines the Gulf Coast.