PORTLAND, Ore. – Many visitors to the shores of the Columbia River in Portland have been shocked at the site of hundreds of dead fish on the shore, but officials said it's normal for this time of year.
The smelt, a small fish often eaten by larger fish such as salmon and trout, have died and washed ashore on beaches along the banks of the river in North Portland and on Sauvie Island.
Officials said there is no cause for alarm. According to Tom Moats with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, smelt spawn and die, just like salmon.
It can even be a sign of health for the smelt population, which was threatened in the area four years ago. Their numbers have since risen and the mass die-off likely means there are more fish overall.
Last year, a large fish die-off caused smelly problems on the Oregon Coast. Millions of anchovies died trying to swim up the Necanicum River at Seaside. They were coming in with the tide, getting stranded and dying.
Experts said the odd phenomenon happens about once every 10 years in the area.
