Thousands of Dead Sardines Wash up on Beach in Hokkaido, Cause Remains Unknown

Thousands of tons of dead fish have mysteriously washed up on a beach in Hokkaido, Japan.

According to Hokkaido Shimbun, a large number of sardines and some mackerels washed ashore around Toi Fishing Port in Hakodate City, Hokkaido, on December 7, resulting in an unpleasant odour.

Officials estimated that there are at least 1,000 tons of dead fish. The cause of this phenomenon is still unknown.

According to the Associated Press, Takashi Fujioka, a researcher from the Hakodate Fisheries Research Institute, suggested that the fish might have been chased by larger fish, leading to exhaustion due to a lack of oxygen in their densely packed school, causing them to be washed ashore by the waves. He also mentioned the possibility of the fish entering cold waters suddenly during migration.

It was also reported that some local residents gathered the fish to sell or to eat. However, the authorities have issued an online notice urging them not to consume the fish.

Approximately 100 personnel from Hakodate City and Oshima General Promotion Bureau will continue their efforts to clean up the area and dispose of the dead fish over the next few days. On December 9, it was reported that the workers manually removed the debris, collecting 30.17 tons within three hours.

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Source: Associated Press