Mass Sardine Beaching Hits Hokkaido; Cleanup Delayed

A town in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido experienced a massive sardine beaching in late December but has struggled to find a company to dispose of the fish, town officials said, Kyodo News reported.

The town experienced a similar event in December 2021, during which about 24 tons of fish had to be disposed of.

Residents are concerned about hygiene as more than a week has passed since the town of Matsumae was alerted to the sardine beaching. The beaching spanned approximately 900 meters along the Sea of Japan, and the cause of the incident remains undetermined.

The town experienced a similar event in December 2021, during which about 24 tons of fish had to be disposed of.

“They're starting to rot. The smell isn't bad yet because the temperatures are low, but I hope they dispose of them soon," a female resident said. The fish may have been forced to shore due to a sudden drop in water temperatures, according to the Hakodate Fisheries Research Institute at the Hokkaido Research Organization.