A massive amount of dead sardines were found drifting in a harbor marina located just south of Los Angeles. The incident puzzled authorities who initiated a huge cleanup drive.

News footage that aired on television showed piles of dead fish, which was about a foot deep from the surface, according to a police spokesman. It was blocking the way in and out for several private boats in King Harbor Marina at Redondo Beach.

The police initially identified the fish as anchovies.

Andrew Hughan, spokesman of the Department of Fish and Game in California, tentatively concluded that the fish died from oxygen deprivation after a storm drove brought them to a closed-off area in the pier.

Hughan said they did not find any signs of illegal activity that would have caused the death of the fish. Also, no oil sheen or chemicals were found in the area.

While biologists wrap up their investigation, authorities were starting to get rid of the dead fish from the water. Buckets and nets round up around the water.

Police Sgt. Phil Keenan of Redondo Beach said tons of rotting dead fish can become a hazardous material. Thus, a cleanup drive is their main concern. Authorities are trying to decide where to place the dead fish. They are also considering throwing them several miles out to the ocean.

According to Trudy Padilla, who is the tenant services coordinator of the marina, the dead fish started showing up during the overnight hours. She said the bad smell from rotting fish has not yet become so apparent, but it will if they don’t clean up the area quickly.