The Ministry of Agriculture explained in a statement that "in light of the appearance of numbers of dead small fish, during the recent period, on the sands of some Lebanese beaches or inside small water pools adjacent to the shore, the competent authorities in the ministry moved to follow up on the phenomenon and verify its causes." It announced that "as a result of preliminary inspections and investigations, a number of potential causes were found, which can be summarized as follows: First: High sea water temperature and low oxygen level Sea water temperature during the month of August reached about 30 degrees Celsius, which leads to a decrease in the percentage of dissolved oxygen in the water, and may cause a mass mortality of fish, especially within semi-closed areas, such as ports and bays, where water renewal is inadequate, coinciding with high pollution levels. This phenomenon was monitored in the Dbayeh area and around Beirut. Second: Using illegal fishing methods Preliminary data indicate that some fishermen are using fishing methods that violate laws and regulations in force, as they resort to picking large fish of high economic value, and leaving the rest of the fish dead in the sea, before the waves wash them ashore." It pointed out that "in this context, the Ministry of Agriculture's apparatus moved in cooperation and coordination with the competent security agencies, and after conducting the necessary investigations, a number of suspects were summoned for investigation, in preparation for taking legal measures against anyone proven responsible for committing any violation. In parallel, the ministry is coordinating with the National Center for Marine Sciences, affiliated with the National Council for Scientific Research, to take samples of the dead fish and subject them to the necessary laboratory tests, with the aim of determining their species and the exact causes of their death." The Ministry of Agriculture affirmed that it "continues to follow up on this file field-wise, scientifically and legally, and will announce the final results of the tests as soon as they are issued," stressing "the need for fishermen to adhere to the laws and regulations governing marine fishing, in order to preserve fish wealth, ecological balance, and the safety of the Lebanese marine environment."