Cops investigated a road incident after fishermen blocked a road with tonnes of dead fish.

Police have launched a criminal investigation after a group of anglers dumped fish onto the highway, obstructing access for passing lorries in Sakhalin, Russia.

Local media reported that tensions had been brewing between the fishermen and workers at a nearby mill.

The fishermen had reportedly objected to heavy trucks using the local road to transport goods and staged the fish-dumping protest to make it unusable.

Footage shows the motorway carpeted with herring, preventing regular vehicles from passing.

The culprits were later seen attempting to remove the fish, not by clearing them, but by driving a lorry back and forth over the carcasses to crush them into the path.

The stunt has sparked outrage among residents, who say the rotting fish have created an unbearable stench and fear the mess will attract bears from the surrounding forests.

In response, local authorities confirmed that a criminal case has been opened to investigate the protest and its environmental and public health implications.