Beach walk takes horrifying turn after woman spots something scattered in the sand

A beachgoer reported finding 29 dead sharks between 29th and 39th streets in Sea Isle City, N.J., which is pictured above.(iStock)

com/travel/shark-sightings-spike-near-americas-beaches-july-4-crowds-head-shore-weekend" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dogfish gather in large schools, meaning a group could have been affected by the same event.

While a toxin might initially appear to be one possible explanation, he said he would expect other marine species to have been affected as well.

“The fact that there aren’t lots of other different kinds of animals washing up at the same time suggests it’s not some kind of pollution or toxin in the environment,” said Heithaus, who was not involved in the discovery or analysis.

“If I had to make a guess, probably something happened to them, and they were caught, but [they] weren’t what people were looking for, and so they got discarded.”

Read More → Scientists predict underwater volcano eruption 300 miles off Oregon

An expert said the unusual discovery in Sea Isle City, pictured above, did not appear consistent with widespread pollution or an environmental toxin.(iStock)

Heithaus said scientists are increasingly using monitoring buoys and other systems ascoastal oceanschange, allowing researchers to track conditions and identify potential threats.

“We’ve learned enough that we can monitor water quality and figure out what’s going on ahead of these events happening so we can make interventions when we might have to,” he said.

“But, you know, in this case, it looks like it was probably something else.”

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Heithaus also advised beachgoers who encounter large numbers of dead marine animals to alert local authorities or wildlife officials.

Heithaus suggested the sharks (not pictured) may have been caught and discarded, though he said that’s a guess on his part. (iStock)

Dogfish typically have a lifespan of 35 to 40 years, according to NOAA Fisheries’ website.

onelink.me/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.

“Like all sharks, dogfish grow slowly, mature late in life and live a long time,” the site states.