If you visited the beaches of Brazoria County in Texas last weekend, you might have seen a shocking sight: thousands of dead fish covering the sand. The smell was awful, and the county had to close the beaches for cleanup. But what caused this fishy disaster?

The culprit was not pollution, disease or predators. It was something much more subtle: low oxygen levels in the water. According to Texas Parks & Wildlife, the water near the shore had almost no dissolved oxygen, which fish need to breathe. This happened because of a combination of factors that created a “perfect storm” for the fish.

First, the summer heat made the shallow water warmer, which reduced its ability to hold oxygen. Second, the calm weather prevented waves from mixing oxygen into the water. Third, the cloudy days reduced the amount of oxygen produced by plants through photosynthesis.

These conditions trapped a large school of Gulf menhaden, also known as pogie, in a suffocating situation. These small fish are common in the Gulf of Mexico and feed many other animals. They also make good bait for fishermen.

The good news is that this event was natural and temporary, and the oxygen levels should return to normal soon. The dead fish also provided a feast for scavengers and a boost of nutrients for the environment. As one expert said, “It’s kind of a circle of life.”

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