Numerous fish washed up along the shores of Lake Erie last week.

Large numbers of dead fish found along the shores of Van Buren to Westfield are being blamed on a dramatic change in temperature in Lake Erie.

State Department of Environmental Conservation Great Lakes fisheries experts suspect the “fish mortality event resulted from a rapid temperature change in the Lake Erie water resulting from cold water upwelling caused by a strong northeasterly wind event that occurred earlier this week.”

In a statement, the DEC said sudden decreases in temperature can adversely affect metabolic processes in fish, causing numerous types of stress responses, which can result in disorientation, loss of swimming balance, auto-intoxication and death.

The OBSERVER reached out to the DEC after receiving numerous reports of the dead fish being found near the shores and floating in the waters. Some residents in Van Buren called the sight “unprecedented.”

To contact an ECO to report an incident, call 1-844-DEC-ECOS for 24-hour dispatch.