Massachusetts environmental police are investigating an incident in Menemsha harbor involving the mysterious death of a commercial fishermen’s live lobster catch by motor oil approximately two weeks ago.

According to a report provided by Craig Gilvarg, a spokesman for the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the incident dates to June 20, when Chilmark harbor master Ryan Rossi notified environmental police of the presence of motor oil on top of a commercial fisherman’s lobster storage containers.

“It was reported that a commercial lobsterman within Menemsha Harbor discovered what appeared to be motor oil poured on top of several of his lobster crates that were tied along his mooring slip,” the report says in part.

According to the report, the contamination of oil resulted in the death of “multiple” lobsters that were stored in the crates. The report also noted that the oil did not appear to have any other environmental impact in the surrounding area.

“I don’t know how many died,” Mr. Rossi said in a subsequent phone interview.

Neither the victim nor a potential suspect were named in the report.

The investigation is ongoing, and is being conducted with the assistance of the Chilmark police and the harbor master. Chilmark police declined further comment.

— Will Sennott