Swimmers are advised to keep away from waters near Honolulu, Hawaii after 1,400 tons of molasses leaked into the ocean killing hundreds of fish.
According to Reuters, the spill could bring sharks to the area.
Because of the amount of fish that died, the Hawaii Department of Health added three times as many cleanup crew members to remove all of the species. Crews were then expected discard a thousand more.
In a statement reported by Reuters, the health department said the sugar ingredient is unhealthy for the water and could decrease the fish population in the area.
"While molasses is not harmful to the public directly, the substance is polluting the water causing fish to die and could lead to an increase in predator species such as sharks, barracuda and eels," the statement said.
The department is also concerned about the amount of marine algae that could grow as a result of the incident, along with the harmful bacteria the water plant contains and can put into the water Reuters reported.
The problem began Monday when discolored water was seen going into Honolulu Harbor and Keehi Lagoon after a ship transporting molasses to the West coast went out to sea. The leak was discovered on Tuesday in a pipeline utilized for putting the liquid onto ships, which is operated by international ocean transport company Matson Navigation Reuters reported.
Signs have been put up on beaches warning people to not go in the water and also told not eat any of the dead fish they may come across in the water or area. The health department expects the brown cover discoloration to remain for some weeks in order to allow for the natural tides and currents to flush the area.
