Officials working to clear beach of hundreds of dead fish
GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) – Officials are working to clean up hundreds of dead fish that washed ashore in Gulfport.
Local media outlets report the Harrison County Sand Beach Authority set out Thursday to clear the beach of the dead animals.
State Department of Marine Resource officials say the fish were discovered Wednesday night just west of the Island View Casino.
The dead fish are scattered about 10 miles along the coast.
The authority’s director Chuck Loftis says most of the fish are porgys and catfish. He plans to have the entire beach cleaned up by Memorial Day.
The Sun Herald reports DMR spokeswoman Melissa Scallan says scientists examined the fish and concluded they died of natural causes as early as Monday.
She says the incident does not appear to be a fish kill.
