News

Scientists and officials fear a possible public health hazard after over one million rotting sardines clog a major Californian marina.

The sardine carcasses began to pile up in the King Harbor Marina in Redondo Beach, near Los Angeles, earlier this week, piling up to 18 inches on the marina floor. Scientists now believe the massive die-out began when the sardines moved into the sheltered marina to escape from rough seas, before using up all the oxygen in the closed in waters. The biggest problem locals faced was what do with all the fish!

"We need to get rid of them," said Redondo Beach Police Sgt Phil Keenan, when interviewed by the local Daily Breeze newspaper. “This is going to create a terrible pollution and public health issue if we don't."

Officials decided to “recycle” all the sardine carcasses into a type of fertilizer, giving space for the 1,400 boats in the marina to move about, and decreasing the fears of a public health crisis. And for any of 500-plus permanent residents of the marina, this incident gave new meaning to the phrase “sardines in a can.”