A string of dead juvenile sharks washing up on a New Jersey beach has left residents unsettled, raising questions about what may have gone wrong in the water and what it could mean for marine life and the people who spend time along that coastline.
Here's what to know
CBS News Philadelphia reported that resident Michelle Greenling found 29 dead sharks during a walk along Sea Isle City's beach. "The first couple weren't too surprising, but when I saw three and four and five, I knew something was up," Greenling told the outlet.
The station reported that Stephen Nagiewicz, an adjunct professor of marine science at Stockton University, identified the animals as juvenile dogfish sharks about a foot long. He added that dogfish often move in large schools, which could help explain why so many turned up in the same area.
Although Greenling said several of the sharks had red marks on their undersides and questioned what those markings could mean for the safety of the water, Nagiewicz told CBS News Philadelphia that contamination in the water was probably not to blame. "If it were some kind of toxic substance in the water, more fish would show up on the beach than just the dogfish," he said.
Nagiewicz instead suggested that the young sharks may have been stranded after tidal changes trapped them. He also said, according to CBS News Philadelphia, that they could have been accidentally caught by fishermen targeting other species and then discarded offshore.
More background
Even so, Nagiewicz said the discovery of nearly 30 sharks on the beach was unusual, though CBS News Philadelphia reported that he did not view it as evidence of a larger environmental issue. By the time a CBS News Philadelphia crew reached the area around noon, the sharks had disappeared, and he said the incoming tide had likely carried them back offshore.
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Questions also were sent to beach patrol officials and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, CBS News Philadelphia reported. While neither had immediately confirmed the reported shark deaths, a DEP spokesperson said events like this are not uncommon.
What can be done?
When unusual wildlife strandings occur, prompt communication from local officials, marine experts, and environmental agencies can help residents understand what was found, the most likely cause, and whether there is any risk to people or other animals.
If discarded catch played a role, closer monitoring and better compliance with fishing rules could help prevent similar incidents in the future. Juvenile animals are part of marine ecosystems, and avoidable losses can make it harder to maintain healthier, more resilient coastal waters.
As Patricia Steidel of Bergen County put it: "That's why they should figure it out. They should try and track down what happened. And if there is illegal fishing, try and patrol it better."
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