The death of hundreds fish in inshore waters is suspected to be the result of an algae bloom.

According to a statement released yesterday by the Ministry of Health, Seniors and Environment, several fish “die-offs” have been reported since Saturday.

“A change in wind direction may bring more fish carcasses to shore but would also disperse the bloom and reoxygenate the water column,” a Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman said. “We expect the conditions which caused the die-off to diminish; already a check of Shelly Bay today revealed no further mortality.

“It is important for the public to keep in mind that these kinds of episodes do occur naturally. Swimmers at Shelly Bay have not reported any resultant illness, and the Department of Health has no reports of related illness.

“There is no cause to avoid swimming, however, the ministry reminds people to not consume any dead fish, nor should the fish be offered to any pet animal.”

The first discovery of dead red-eared sardines, also known as pilchards, in the region of Shelly Bay, Hamilton Parish, was inspected by a biologist from the Department of Conservation Services.

The biologist estimated that several hundred fish had been affected and observed a suspected algae bloom, which, according to the statement, may be the cause of the dead fish.

Samples of the fish and water were collected for testing.

Dead fish of the same species were also reported in the Spanish Point area, Whalebone Bay and Coot Pond, St George’s, but the number of fish at the latter sites were small.

A further suspected algae bloom was reported in the waters off Tucker’s Town and another along the north shore of Harrington Sound.

The plankton bloom, when coupled with calm weather and light easterly winds, can create low oxygen levels in the waters of western-facing bays, such as Shelly Bay and at Spanish Point, which could have caused the fish mortality.