With reference to the particular incident of dead sardines in King Harbor this month, research concluded that the fish died of intoxication. Professor of biological sciences, David Caron, and his team reported that indeed those dead sardines stomach contained toxin.
The causes of the sudden death of the fish were that a strong neurotoxin mixture makes the fish confused and unable to swim. Besides, due to strong waves, winds and a lack of oxygen consequently led the latter to instant death. The team came to analyze the fish tummy due to toxic algal blooms in the coastal water for the few past years. Effectively, it contained a type of neurotoxine called ‘domoic acid’ which drove them to death.
The toxin worsened the stress of the fish by making them paralyzed and confused thus eventually they were found dead near the harbor. The more surprising issue is that no toxins were found in the water and more test were needed to be done added the professor.
A week away from the drastic incident the public and volunteers are still busy cleaning up the sticky mess before it further contaminates the sea water.
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/03/15/california.fish.kill/
