Mirbat – Massive piles of dead red shrimp have washed ashore along several beaches in Mirbat, Dhofar prompting inspections by fisheries specialists.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources said initial findings indicate the phenomenon is most likely linked to natural environmental factors rather than pollution.

In a statement, the ministry said small crustaceans including juvenile shrimp and krill are highly sensitive to changes in marine conditions. Sudden shifts in sea temperature at depth, reduced dissolved oxygen levels and strong marine currents can affect their survival and push them into areas unsuitable for habitation.

A technical team from the Fisheries Research Centre in Dhofar conducted field visits to several coastal sites in Mirbat. According to the ministry, preliminary observations and sample analyses found no evidence of environmental contamination. No deaths were recorded among other marine species.

‘These crustaceans are highly sensitive to fluctuations in marine conditions,’ the statement said, noting that even minor variations in temperature and oxygen levels can result in mortality and cause the organisms to wash ashore in noticeable numbers.

The ministry recalled a similar incident along the coast of Rakhyut in Dhofar last year, when shrimp mortality was observed on beaches. Laboratory studies at the time identified the species as Challengerosergia umitakae, with specialists attributing the die-off to natural temperature changes in the sea.

Such occurrences can happen periodically, particularly during seasons marked by marine fluctuations.

The ministry urged the public not to consume shrimp found on beaches and to exercise caution. It added that monitoring and further scientific examinations will continue to determine the precise circumstances behind the latest incident.

Officials stressed that there is no indication so far of broader ecological impact, as investigations remain ongoing.