Following storms at sea, starfish numbers reached thousands washed up in Wales on beaches.
The sight of huge piles of stranded sea animals after being washed ashore on rocks and sand shocked beach-walkers.
According to the Marine Conservation Society, extreme weather was likely the cause of starfish that were found on Coppet Hall Beach, Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire on Tuesday.
Even though witnesses raised concern that something was wrong, the spokesperson of the Natural History Museum stated that it wasn’t a major problem as the starfish population “regenerates quickly”.
Common starfish are not often stranded in large numbers. However, other species were reported to be stranded along the east coast of North America.
Soon after hundreds of other sea creatures were washed to shore in East Yorkshire, thousands of sea creatures covered Ramsgate Beach, Kent in March 2018.
Andrew Cabrinovic, the Natural History Museum’s curator of echinoderms, has previously said the cause of the starfish washing ashore is water currents becoming stronger due to stormy weather.
Starfish can be found in the sandy or soft parts of the seafloor, along with rocky reefs.
Coppet Hall, West Wales: Thousands of starfish werehed up at the beach on Saundersfoot.
Starfish were washed onto UK beaches by stormy weather, according to some sources
Campaigners previously blamed seismic survey of the ocean floor for killing whales and other marine animals. The noises may cause permanent and temporary hearing loss as well as habitat disruption and abandonment.
Heavy storms can cause water to rise and impact offshore starfish population. However, changing tides and high seas can affect the number of stranded.
Starfish also react to extreme cold and changes in water saltiness, such as those caused by heavy rain.
For example, Storm Arwen caused starfish numbers to rise by causing thousands of them to be washed up on the beach at Culbin Sands in Inverness in November 2013.
Many starfish and shellfish were also left behind by the strong winds and high waves of Storm Emma 2018, which caused miles upon miles of beach erosion.
The sight of starfish still alive was a shocking sight to locals.
Passer by Giles Davies reported that she had not seen anything similar before.
‘It’s really sad to just see that in nature, because you’re looking at deaths in the thousands of one species. It’s the sheer volume – you’re always going to get winter tides where stuff will come ashore.
“For that volume of water to be ashore,” he said.
The Natural History Museum spokesperson said that the museum regularly observes mass strandings seabed-dwelling creatures after storms. This happens usually in winter and sometimes multiple times per year.
Starfish researcher Dr Chris Mah from Smithsonian Institution, USA said that almost all instances of this have reported storms and high winds.
‘Bear in mind that storms don’t just mean high winds and rough water current. It can also mean fresh water input.
In October, thousands of lobsters and crabs washed ashore on the beaches of the North East England. Local residents called it the worst scene they’ve ever witnessed.
The Environment Agency confirmed samples had been taken from the sea creatures, water and sediment for laboratory analysis after the dead and alive animals began appearing on the sand along the Teesside coast between Marske and Saltburn, North Yorkshire, in Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, and further north at Seaham.
Laboratory analysis is used to check the water for pollutants and analyse dead marine life for parasites or disease.
Previous scientists have blamed seismic surveys for the problems that they are causing. In an attempt to find offshore oil and natural gas resources, blasting the ocean floor using airguns. for the deaths of whales and other marine life.
The blasts, which are loud enough to penetrate through the ocean for miles, can affect sea creatures, such as whales, turtles and dolphins, and can lead to the abandonment of habitat, disruption of mating and feeding, beach strandings, and even death.