GabyThe Bible tells two stories of fishermen who, thanks to Jesus, hauled in enormous catches that fed their communities for weeks. These events likely took place on the Sea of Galilee, also known as Lake Kinneret, where Jesus preached. A new study suggests the miracle can be explained by a natural phenomenon that occurs at certain times of the year. What did the researchers find?
Scientists from the Kinneret Limnological Laboratory in Israel found that oxygen levels at depth in the lake are significantly lower. Blooms of phytoplankton block oxygen from reaching deeper water, causing fish to suffocate, the Daily Mail reported. The researchers recalled two events in 2012 when thousands of dead fish floated to the surface along the lake’s shore. “Our study may explain the abundance of fish near the shore, as described in biblical accounts,” the team said. The team says their theory supports the idea that the biblical accounts of colossal fish catches could have been based on real events.
Satellite image of the Sea of Galilee
How was the research conducted? The scientists wanted to figure out how fishermen could have made such huge catches. The team deployed sensors in the lake to monitor water temperature, wind direction, and wind speed. The data showed that low oxygen levels were triggered by strong winds blowing from the west. Co-author Yael Amitai explained, “The Sea of Galilee is a stratified lake. The upper layer is warm and oxygen-rich, while the lower layer is cold and devoid of oxygen.” Lake Kinneret is a warm lake, with surface temperatures that never drop below 3.9 °C. It has layers of varying temperatures formed by differences in water density.
Twice a year the lake undergoes thermal stratification, a seasonal layering of warm and cold water. During the 4–6 weeks of stratification in March and April, Lake Kinneret can become anoxic — losing oxygen and becoming unable to support most aquatic life. In 2012, this natural phenomenon mainly affected carp that feed on zooplankton, which make up a significant portion of the lake’s fish population. Other dead fish were also found, including catfish, tilapia, and mullet. This phenomenon isn’t rare; it occurs in other lakes around the world.
Ultimately, the scientists suggested that conditions in the lake 2,000 years ago were similar to those today. At the time of the biblical stories, the surrounding lands were densely populated by farmers. The population of the region then was around 200,000, a number comparable to today.
