This week more than 200 dolphins were found dead along a 106-kilometer stretch at the beaches of Lambayeque.

Authorities have not yet been able to determine the cause of the deaths.

According to El Comercio, Edward Barriga, head of Peru’s Ocean Institute (Imarpe) in Lambayeque, ordered samples be sent to Lima, for further analysis.

“Soon we will announce the root causes," Barriga said.

Barriga said he had also found considerable quantities of dead anchovies on the beaches between the district of San jose and Palo Parado, in Morrope.

Jorge Torres Cabrejos, head of the Lambayeque’s Association of Maritime Growers, said the dolphins might have eaten the dead anchovies, who had died from decomposing plankton, caused by heavy pollution.

According to El Comercio, Torres denied that local fisherman were to blame for the dolphins’ deaths.

Last month Imarpe investigated the death of several dolphins and sea lions in the beaches of Piura.

Local media said the deaths could have been the result of oil spills in the area.

---

MORE NEWS

• Southern Peru shaken by three earthquakes
• Dead dolphins and sea lions found in northern Peru beaches
• Alan Garcia criticizes Peru's junk food bill: ‘It won’t stop people from eating fats’
• Colombian coffeehouse chain Juan Valdez Café has big plans for Peru
• Peru’s Humala to travel to Colombia and Ecuador