wellnessfitproAn expert theorized that the sharks may have been stranded due to changing tides
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/the-beaches-of-Sea-Isle-City-081226-2-cbc51eccaafc48cd9b8af9ead0c96354.jpg "the beaches of Sea Isle City")
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NEED TO KNOW
- A woman discovered 29 dead sharks along a stretch of beach in Sea Isle City, N.J., on Wednesday, Aug. 12
- “It was definitely concerning. I was concerned about the water. I was concerned about the sharks,” Michelle Greenling said of the sighting
- Experts believe the young dogfish sharks may have been stranded by tides or dumped offshore by fishermen
One woman was greeted by a shocking sight on her beach walk in Sea Isle City, N.J., on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
Michelle Greenling was walking along the town’s beach when she first stumbled across a couple of dead sharks. She told CBS Philadelphia that seeing the first few wasn’t “too surprising,” but when she saw a fourth and fifth, she “knew something was up.”
As she walked across 10 blocks, she spotted 29 dead sharks, with some displaying red markings on their bellies. “It was definitely concerning. I was concerned about the water. I was concerned about the sharks,” she said.
The sharks were believed to be young dogfish sharks, Stephen Nagiewicz, an adjunct professor of marine science at Stockton University, told CBS Philadelphia. He added that the cause of the mass deaths could be linked to the changing tides, which may have stranded the sharks.
“A couple of things it could be. There’s something in the water, and they got sick and died. That’s probably unlikely since people haven’t been affected,” Nagiewicz also told 6ABC.
Nagiewicz also theorized that the sharks could have been dumped offshore by fishermen.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection was contacted about the reported shark deaths.
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PEOPLE reached out to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Sea Isle City Beach Patrol for additional information.
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