Muscat: The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and Water Resources (MAFWR) on Wednesday has issued a clarification regarding the recent incident at Qurum beach, where several schools of fish were washed ashore since Sunday, leaving beachgoers and residents puzzled about the cause behind this unusual phenomenon.
Several residents living near these coastal area, mostly near the Shatti Qurum and adjacent to the Crowne Plaza hotel were surprised to see the phenomenon.
"From Sunday on, I've been seeing several fishes being washed ahsore at these beaches of Shatti Qurum and near Crowne Plaza beach sides where I go for regular walks," Ryan, a resident of this area told the Observer.
"I've not been eating fish ever since I suspected some fishy thing in the sea that prompted these carcasses being washed ashore," a woman from this area added.
When contacted, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries said that this incidence is not a reason for worry but a result of the red tide.
"Some parts of the coasts of the Sea of Oman are witnessing a bloom of phytoplankton and this will last for some more time. These dead fishes being thrown to the beach are result of the red tide," an official from the Ministry sa
Red tide, also known as Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) happen when colonies of algae which is a plant-like organisms that are mostly found living in the sea and freshwater grow beyond control and produces toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, and birds. They can also cause illnesses to humans and although they are rare, can also be fatal.
The Ministry has been monitoring and studying this phenomenon for many years to determine how to detect and forecast the location of the blooms in order to make adequate precautions against its harming effect. Advance warnings are necessary to deal with the adverse environmental and health effects triggered by the 'red-tide' events, according to the Ministry.
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