Thousands of dead fish washed up on a beach in Thailand sparking panic among tourists and locals.

Schools of Chacunda gizzard shad covered the Bang Saen beach in Chonburi province on March 11, emitting a foul stench and driving away visitors coming for a swim.

The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources launched an investigation into the bizarre phenomenon.

They checked with the local conservation network and fishermen and found that it was peak season for Chacunda gizzard shad, with trawlers netting up to 10 kilos of the fish per day.

Authorities suspect that the fishing net on one of the trawlers may have broken, releasing the dead fish which were swept by waves onto the shore.

The Saensuk Municipality has cleaned up more than eight tons of stinky rotting fish from the beach.

To appease frightened residents, the water quality was also tested.

Data from the Si Racha water monitoring station showed that the parameters were normal, with a temperature of 29.32 degrees Celcius, a salinity of 31.70 PSU, a dissolved oxygen saturation of 270.30 per cent, and a pH level of 8.33.

Chacunda gizzard shad grow to an average of 14 to 20 centimetres in length. They sell for around 30 to 40 baht per kilogram in Thailand and can be found in abundance in the Gulf of Thailand.

Thousands of dead fish washed up on a beach in Thailand sparking panic among tourists and locals.

Schools of Chacunda gizzard shad covered the Bang Saen beach in Chonburi province on March 11, emitting a foul stench and driving away visitors coming for a swim.

The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources launched an investigation into the bizarre phenomenon.

They checked with the local conservation network and fishermen and found that it was peak season for Chacunda gizzard shad, with trawlers netting up to 10 kilos of the fish per day.

Authorities suspect that the fishing net on one of the trawlers may have broken, releasing the dead fish which were swept by waves onto the shore.

The Saensuk Municipality has cleaned up more than eight tons of stinky rotting fish from the beach.

To appease frightened residents, the water quality was also tested.

Data from the Si Racha water monitoring station showed that the parameters were normal, with a temperature of 29.32 degrees Celcius, a salinity of 31.70 PSU, a dissolved oxygen saturation of 270.30 per cent, and a pH level of 8.33.

Chacunda gizzard shad grow to an average of 14 to 20 centimetres in length. They sell for around 30 to 40 baht per kilogram in Thailand and can be found in abundance in the Gulf of Thailand.