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Crews clean up dead fish along the shoreline of Lake Merritt near in Oakland that washed ashore due to a harmful algal bloom spreading across the Bay.

Contracted crews begin the process of cleaning up dead fish along the shoreline of Lake Merritt near East 18th and Lakeshore avenues in Oakland, Calif. Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022 that washed ashore due to a harmful algal bloom that is spreading across the Bay.

A large group of brown pelicans and seagulls feast on live fish swimming among dead fish and other marine wildlife washed up on the shores of Lake Merritt near East 18th and Lakeshore avenues in Oakland, Calif. Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022 due to a harmful algal bloom that is spreading across the Bay.

Ahead of a forecasted heat wave, crews began removing the dead fish from Oakland’s Lake Merritt Wednesday morning as passersby snapped photos of the decaying topsmelt and bass.

Contracted workers set up cones and caution tape along the shoreline near Lakeshore Avenue and E. 18th Street just after 9:30 a.m. Using nets from the Lake Merritt Institute and donning protective gear, the workers scooped the dead fish and placed them into biohazard bags.

The fish will then be incinerated, according to city protocol, said Sean Maher, public information officer for the city’s Public Works Department.

“We’re doing what we can at the local level ... to provide a safe, comfortable space (for residents),” said Maher.

Contracted crews begin the process of cleaning up dead fish along the shoreline of Lake Merritt near East 18th and Lakeshore avenues in Oakland, Calif. Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022 that washed ashore due to a harmful algal bloom that is spreading across the Bay.

The cleanup efforts were expected to continue into Thursday. Oakland officials said they were working with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board to address the harmful algal bloom at the lake, which has spread across the San Francisco Bay in the past month.

Oakland officials posted warning signs in May after finding contaminants associated with a low level of harmful algae in the water, as well as water scum. The water board performed additional testing on Aug. 22, but the results were not available as of Wednesday morning, said Maher.

Residents and environmental scientists began seeing dead fish at Lake Merritt and other areas last weekend. People are urged to keep children and pets out of the water.

Scientists still don’t know the exact cause of the harmful algae bloom and said it’s the largest bloom they’ve seen in over a decade. A microorganism called Heterosigma akashiwo was first spotted late July in Alameda, causing an alarmingly high number of fish to die across the bay, including at Coyote Point Marina, the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge and other areas.

Marcus Wells, an Oakland resident, was on his way to meet a friend at the lake Wednesday morning when he noticed people snapping photos.

“I can’t even look. It’s a sick feeling in my stomach,” he said, while carrying his daughter and looking at the fish with disgust.

Hundreds of dead fish and other marine wildlife are seen washed up on the shores of Lake Merritt near East 18th and Lakeshore avenues in Oakland, Calif. Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022 due to a harmful algal bloom that is spreading across the Bay.

Wells said he was happy that crews were working to remove the fish before the anticipated hot weather.

“It’s gonna get hella stanky,” he said.

Oakland resident Linh Trinh was worried about the remaining marine life in the lake and whether the water was safe for them.

“What’s going to happen to the water?” she wondered. “Is anything alive in there? It’s only getting worse.”

James Robinson, executive director of the Lake Merritt Institute, urged people to not litter or eat the fish. He encouraged people who want to help clean the lake to volunteer for trash cleanups hosted by the organization.

Jessica Flores (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jessica.flores@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jesssmflores

Jessica Flores is a reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle. Before joining The Chronicle in 2021, she worked for USA Today, NPR affiliate KPCC and Curbed LA. Originally from L.A., she received her master's degree in journalism from the University of Southern California and a bachelor's degree from Mount Saint Mary's University in Los Angeles.