Fish die-off in Ventura Harbor as sardines, anchovies lose oxygen from overcrowding

Ventura, CA, United States (AHN) - Thousands of sardines and anchovies died in Ventura Harbor on Monday apparently due to depleted oxygen in the waters after the fish over-concentrated there.

The Harbor Patrol used boats and a dozen volunteers to scoop up about six tons of dead fish. More than 20 50-gallon barrels were filled with dead fish in the daylong cleanup. The dead fish were then dumped offshore.

The die-off was discovered in the harbor's southwest corner on Monday morning. Seagulls, sea lions and porpoises were also seen feasting on live fish.

Harbor officials don't know what drove the fish to the harbor as there was no red tide that usually causes such die-off.

Last month, millions of sardines also died off in similar fashion in Redondo Beach's King Harbor. The massive cleanup netted 175 tons of dead fish.