More dead sardines found on Hokkaido shoreline

For the second time this week, huge numbers of sardines on Thursday were found washed ashore along the Hokkaido coast.

Fisheries officials said tons of sardines -- most dead but some still alive -- were found along a two-kilometer stretch as well as in and around Urakawa port, NTV reported Friday.

On Monday, a large number of sardines washed up on the shore along the coast of Mukawamachi. Officials say that at least 100 tons of sardines have washed ashore this week.

As of Friday morning, workers had removed about 25 tons of the dead sardines. Cleanup work is expected to continue for a few more days.

Marine experts said that on Nov 3, a large drop in atmospheric pressure caused unexpectedly cold underwater currents to begin pouring into the ocean in the region. "As sardines are not generally adept at surviving in such cold water, they attempted to swim to warmer areas closer to the shores. Unfortunately, however, due to insufficient oxygen levels, countless schools of fish died and were washed onto the shore," one official said.

© Japan Today