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Millions of Fish Die in Marina

"Redondo Beach was at the center of a sudden die-off of millions of fish, caused by extremely low levels of oxygen in the water.

Millions of sardines, mackerel and anchovies covered the surface of the water, which were surrounded by the boats docked at the marina at Redondo Beach’s King Harbor. Despite efforts to scoop up the dead fish out of the water, the stench has pervaded.

Scientists and officials are still investigating what could have brought oxygen levels to nearly zero, but the likely cause is an algal bloom and subsequent decay.

Fish die-offs have occurred in King Harbor in 2003 and 2005, both caused by algal blooms. The Los Angeles Times explains that die-offs such as these are almost always caused by decaying algae. The decaying algae sink to the bottom of the ocean, where bacteria breaks it down, using up the oxygen in the water in the process.

An algal bloom could have been caused by the heavy rainfall, which led to nutrients being washed into the ocean."