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Thousands of dead Menhaden fish washed up on a Texas Gulf Coast beach Friday morning, county officials said.
Quintana Beach County Park said the dead fish were found at the far end of Bryan Beach, near the mouth of the Brazos River, about six miles up the coast from Quintana Park.
Thousands of dead fish wash up on a beach in Brazoria County, Texas. (Province of Brazoria)
County officials said warmer water, which can’t hold as much oxygen as cooler water, was to blame for the massive fish kill.
When the water rises above 70 degrees Fahrenheit, it becomes difficult for Menhaden to get enough oxygen to survive, Quintana Beach County Park said in a Facebook post.
MILLIONS OF ROTTEN FISH WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE AUSTRALIAN RIVER
Shallow waters warm up more quickly, and if Menhaden become trapped, they will suffer from hypoxia, a condition where oxygen levels are insufficient to maintain homeostasis. Under these conditions, the fish will behave more erratically, further reducing their oxygen level.
Another reason for the lack of oxygen in the water is cloudy skies that block microscopic phytoplankton or macroalgae from photosynthesis.
“So in a nutshell, it was the perfect storm to deplete coastal oxygen levels,” said Quintana Beach County Park.
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Crews have begun the removal process, but the tide still needs to drop a few feet before all the fish can be removed. FOX 26 reportedciting park officials.
Bradford Betz is a Fox News Digital breaking reporter covering crime, political issues and much more.
