Anchovy Alert - August 29, 2023
In recent days, the harbor has experienced a large influx of baitfish, which appear to be primarily anchovies. When large schools of fish inundate the harbor, it can reduce oxygen levels to a point where fish populations become stressed or die-off en masse. This has occurred several times in the harbor’s history, with the last large-scale die-off occurring in 2014.
To prevent a large-scale die-off, harbor staff is monitoring the abundance of fish, deploying the aerator system, and utilizing specialized equipment to measure levels of remaining dissolved oxygen.
While we recognize that the aerators can be a nuisance at times, please understand that they serve an important purpose. Please do not turn off the aerators. If you observe any aerators not functioning properly, please contact the harbor office at (831) 475-6161 or non-emergency dispatch at (831) 471-1131 after hours.
We will keep you posted if the situation becomes critical. In the meantime, we appreciate your patience.