A rare phenomenon recently occurred at a beach in Scotland, where thousands of starfish were washed ashore, astonishing residents who described it as something "not seen in 50 years."
According to the BBC, the scene unfolded on the beach near Kirkcaldy in Fife, where the shoreline and nearby rocks were covered with starfish, estimated to number in the thousands. An 86-year-old local resident remarked, "I've never seen anything like this before, but yesterday the wind was very strong, and the sand was blown up, so maybe that's the reason." Her son added, "What I don't understand is why they are all dead. Something must have caused their deaths, and an investigation is needed."
The Fife Coast and Countryside Trust explained that starfish and other invertebrates, as well as crabs and shellfish, can be easily disturbed by wind and waves while they inhabit or migrate in shallow waters, leading them to wash ashore. Storms and strong onshore winds can severely disturb the seabed, which likely contributed to the mass stranding of starfish. The organization has sent personnel to the site to assess the situation, stating that the best course of action is to allow the tides to naturally carry away the dead bodies while monitoring the situation.
Authorities also warned that starfish may be toxic to dogs, urging the public to be cautious when walking pets to avoid any contact.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency confirmed that it is aware of the incident, noting that such large-scale strandings are part of the natural marine cycle, and similar occurrences have been observed along the east coast of Scotland in recent years.
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