Sea Isle City beach sees dozens of dead dogfish sharks

Nearly 30 dead dogfish sharks washed ashore along a stretch of beach in Sea Isle City, New Jersey, on Wednesday morning. The carcasses, measuring between 3 and 5 feet in length, were discovered by a resident spread across approximately 10 blocks between 29th and 39th streets.

Marine experts have proposed several theories regarding the cause of death, though none have been confirmed. Stephen Nagiewicz, a marine scientist at Stockton University, suggested the sharks might have been caught by fishermen and subsequently discarded, or that the school may have become trapped on a sandbar during low tide. While environmental toxins were considered, experts noted that the lack of other affected marine species makes pollution an unlikely cause.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection stated it would not launch a formal investigation, noting that it is not unusual for fish to forage near the shore during summer months and occasionally become stranded.