Mass fish death fouls California marina

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. (AP) — An estimated 1 million fish turned up dead Tuesday in a Southern California marina, creating a floating feast for pelicans, gulls and other sea life and a stinky mess for harbor authorities.

Boaters awakened to find a carpet of small silvery fish surrounding their vessels, said Staci Gabrielli, marine coordinator for King Harbor Marina on the Los Angeles County coast. Authorities said there was also a 12- to 18-inch layer of dead fish on the bottom of the marina.
California Fish and Game officials said the fish were sardines that apparently depleted the water of oxygen and suffocated.

"All indications are it's a naturally occurring event," said Andrew Hughan, a Fish and Game spokesman at the scene.