Millions of fish die in the US harbor

About one million sardine fishes emerged at a port in the US state of California, creating a plentiful meal for seabirds but embarrassing officials.

The body of sardine fish covered the water in King's harbor on March 8.Photo: AFP.

AP reported that the fishermen in King Harbor, Redondo Beach, California, were surprised to see fish bodies floating around their boats and covering a whole area of ​​water. Then officials examined and discovered fish corpses forming layers of thickness from 30 to 45 cm at the bottom.

Brent Scheiwe, an expert at the Los Angeles Conservation Association, said that the results of testing some water samples in the harbor showed that oxygen levels were near zero. Water samples without oil or any chemicals can cause fish to die.

Andrew Hughan, spokesperson for the California State Hunting and Fishing Commission, said that it was possible the fish swam into the harbor the night before and could not find a way out.

'The simplest explanation is that they are lost. This event does not cause any safety issues, but it is certain that the stench will spread throughout the pier in the near future , 'Hughan said.

Sanitation workers collect corpses at King's harbor on March 8.Photo: AP.

Firefighters, police patrol boats and sanitation workers collect dead fish with nets and buckets. At first, harbor management officials thought that the number of dead fish was about a few million, but according to calculations by the California State Fishing and Hunting Commission, there were only about a million fish. City officials estimate the cost to clean up the pier can be up to $ 100,000.

Marine animals also help people clean up huge mounds of meat.

' The seals are drunk. People see large fish flocks popping sardine fish on the water. Fish carcasses will be processed according to the natural cycle, 'Hughan said.