[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] An incident occurred on the northeast coast of England, UK, where sea creatures such as crabs, lobsters, and clams were washed ashore in large numbers, prompting the Environment Agency to launch an investigation.
On the 27th (local time), according to CNN and others, Sharon Bell, a resident of the coastal village Marske-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire, northeast England, said, "While walking by the sea, the number of dead crustaceans has gradually increased over the past two weeks. In some places, seaweed, crabs, and lobsters were tangled together, piled up to waist height." She added, "Having lived in this area for 21 years, this is the first time I've seen such a sight." She also expressed concern, saying, "Corpses have been piling up for weeks, but no one is taking action."
According to the BBC, this phenomenon has been reported in recent weeks in Redcar in North Yorkshire, the River Tees, and seaside resorts at the mouth of the North Sea such as Seaton Carew, Saltburn, and Bran Sands. Last weekend, a dead dolphin was also found at the mouth of the River Tees. The BBC reported that "experts have said they are very concerned and that this is a very unusual phenomenon."
Jamie Boyko, a marine biologist at Teesside University, explained, "The cause of this phenomenon could be extreme weather events or disease. However, it is a very unusual situation that multiple species, from crabs and lobsters to sharks and fish species, are simultaneously affected."
Fishermen in the area are known not to fish near the northeast coast due to a lack of catch, suggesting that marine creatures may have been washed ashore from other areas.
Meanwhile, the UK Environment Agency stated that it is investigating the reason why hundreds of dead crabs have drifted along the coast near the mouth of the River Tees and nearby beaches in cooperation with the Northeast Coastal Fisheries Conservation Authority. The Environment Agency reportedly collected samples from dead crustaceans, seawater, and sediment for laboratory analysis to verify the cause.
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