In recent news, millions of sardines were found dead, floating and creating a massive stink at Redondo Beach’s King Harbor Marina in California. Speculated to have suffocated in the confines of King Harbor, possibly while seeking shelter from a predator or simply becoming lost near a breakwater late Monday, 7th March 2011, this incident was just one of many mysterious mass deaths in recent years.
Dubbed the Aflockalypse, these bizarre spates of mass marine life deaths have been recorded with alarming frequency in the past couple years. Often dismissed as a series of unrelated or unfortunate coincidences, and even with the countless speculations and theories, no one seems to have any conclusive evidence behind the mass casualties. There is no good answer or reasoning of the mass deaths in most cases. Make’s you think, doesn’t it?
Here’s a look at some of the strange mass marine life deaths recorded recently:
Up to 100,000 fish found dead along Arkansas River (January 2011)
After Arkansas residents were shocked by the 5,000 birds that fell from the sky and died, they had to deal with 100,000 dead drum fish that have washed up along the Arkansas River. According to WSFA reports that scientists believe the fish were killed due to a disease that was passed among them. Continue reading on Examiner
40,000 Devil Crabs wash up on shore in Britain (January 2011)
In early January The Guardian reported that more than 40,000 dead Velvet swimming crabs also known as devil crabs appeared on the Thanet shoreline in England. Dead starfish, lobsters, sponges and anemones were also found at the scene. Reports said that environmental experts believed that the cold weather in Britain last December was the reason of the mass crab death. It was also said that it was the coldest December in 120 years, which left sea temperatures much lower than average. Read more…
2 Million dead fish surfaced in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay in the U.S (January 2011)
The Huffington Post reported that an estimated 2 million fish were found dead in the Chesapeake Bay, mostly adult spot with some juvenile croakers in the mix, as well. Maryland Department of the Environment spokesperson Dawn Stoltzfus says “cold-water stress” is believed to be the culprit. She told The Sun that similar large winter fish deaths were documented in 1976 and 1980. Read more…
100 Tons of Fish Found Dead In Brazil (January 2011)
ParanaOnline reported that 100 tons of sardines, croaker and catfish washed up in Brazilian fishing towns on the 5th January, 2011. The cause of the deaths was unknown, with an imbalance in the environment, chemical pollution, or accidental release from a fishing boat all suggested by local officials. Read more…
Hundreds of Dead Snapper Fish in New Zealand (January 2011)
In New Zealand, hundreds of dead snapper fish washed up on Coromandel Peninsula beaches, many found with their eyes missing, according to the New Zealand Herald . A Department of Conservation official allegedly claimed the fish were starving due to weather conditions. Read more…
168 Pilot Whales Stranded on Remote New Zealand Beach (February 2011)
Over the last few months, there’s been a spate of mass strandings on a New Zealand island–pilot whales have been mysteriously washing up onshore, baffling scientists and conservationists. The most recent beaching occurred when 28 pilot whales washed up on a remote New Zealand beach bring the death toll total to 168 in the past few months alone. Read more…
It doesn’t stop there. The mass deaths include thousands of birds falling from the sky, whales stranded on beaches, dead fish blanketing rivers and the ocean, crabs, penguins and even livestock. There are so many incidents that the mass animal deaths are now even being mapped on Google maps, so you can keep track of what is being called “Aflockalypse”.
Whats your take on all this? Do let us know in your comments below…
