BMKG: The Phenomenon of Fish Stranded on Mutiara Beach of North Jakarta due to Wind is Not a Sign of an Earthquake

Screenshot of the situation of stranded little fish shared by a resident on the ANTARA/Hereloita Dharma Shanti social media)

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) stated that the phenomenon of the stranding of much small fish on the coast of Mutiara Beach, North Jakarta was caused by the sea breeze and was not a sign of an earthquake.

"There are many factors, including water fertility, wind, and ocean currents. It has nothing to do with an earthquake, yes", said the Head of the BMKG Maritime Meteorology Center, Eko Prasetyo, when confirmed by Antara by telephone in Jakarta, Wednesday, November 30.

Eko stated that unseen, the sea breeze had pushed the small fish to follow the current until they were stranded on the coast. People are advised not to panic because this phenomenon can also occur in larger fish such as whales or dolphins.

This is because there is a possibility that the wind that carries small fish will attract the attention of larger fish to look for food according to the food chain.

"Automatically the small fish will also be followed by the big fish as a food chain", he said.

Apart from being pushed by the wind, Eko said that there is a possibility that the various other nutrients needed by the small fish will follow the wind currents, thus pushing the fish closer to the shoreline.

While another possibility is due to the presence of chlorophyll-a which is one of the factors for fertility in the sea.

Eko added that the stranding of these small fish can be said to be a form of a rare phenomenon due to oceanographic abnormalities which is a boon for residents because they can harvest fish without using nets at sea.

Even so, Eko stated, the sea phenomenon was still a temporary suspicion of the BMKG. Further research is needed to be able to determine the reasons for these small fish stranded on the coast.

"The rest is temporary, yes, but further research is needed", he said

For information, on Wednesday the public through various social media was shocked by the appearance of schools of small fish that had washed up on the coasts of Onrust Beach, Seribu Islands, and Mutiara Beach, North Jakarta.

Many residents share videos of this natural phenomenon. Some of the residents even took the fish that surfaced to take home using buckets.