Shocking Fish Wash-up on Welsh Beach
Passers-by on a Welsh beach were left astounded when a vast number of fish, resembling “millions,” were washed up onto the pebbled shoreline.
The spectacle unveiled countless whitebait, both alive and deceased, scattered across the sands.
Individuals hurriedly began gathering the whitebait, intending to take them home for meals.
Peculiar Phenomenon at Pwllheli Beach
The occurrence took place along the Pwllheli shoreline, specifically on Pwllheli Beach, also known as Traeth Marian-y-De.
A retired academic, Ambra Burls, 69, who resides nearby, shared her astonishment, stating that despite living there for over a decade and visiting the beach regularly, such an incident had never been witnessed before.
Youngsters could be observed collecting the fish from the water’s edge, while parents filled bags, mentioning their intention to use the whitebait for dining.
Unveiling the Nature of Whitebait
Whitebait collectively refers to juvenile fish, in this case, sprats belonging to the herring family.
Reports indicate that these fish were driven towards the shore by pursuing mackerel, inadvertently straying too close to land during their escape.
During high tide, deceased whitebait lined the coast, contrasted by the presence of live ones nearer to the water.
Experts clarified that such occurrences often transpire when fish venture too close to the shoreline, trying to evade predators, only to become stranded as the tide recedes.
Nature’s Course Unfolds
Ambra’s observations extended to people standing amidst shoals of fish in shallow waters of about 1.5 feet.
Some individuals were scooping the fish into bags, while others even managed to catch young mackerel with their hands, ranging from six inches to a foot in length.
While a couple of fishermen focused on larger mackerel, Ambra noted that lines of whitebait stretched along the entire 1,600-meter stretch of the beach.
She pointed out that a portion of the whitebait struggled to return to the water, facing the predicament of perishing on the shore or becoming prey for mackerel.
Similar Events and Nature’s Explanation
Occurrences akin to this have been documented in Wales and Cornwall in recent years.
In 2020, a similar event transpired on Benar Beach near Barmouth, Gwynedd, where local herring gulls promptly feasted on the stranded fish.
Interestingly, this time, no seagulls were present, as noted by Ambra.
Natural Resources Wales has previously reassured that although the phenomenon might seem disconcerting, it’s simply nature following its course.
Such strandings are more common during warmer months, specifically from July to September.
