MASONBORO ISLAND, N.C. (WECT) – There was more than just sand on the beach when people came to Masonboro Island.
The people who were on the island say they think the sea creatures in the shot are Spiny Dogfish sharks. People say that as you went up and down the coast, more than 50 animals washed up on the shore.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has been contacted by WECT to find out what happened.
“The report is being looked into by Marine Patrol staff, and we should have more information in the next few days,” the Division of Marine Fisheries told us.
We talked to a number of fishing companies to find out more. Captain Trevor Smith of Gone Coastal Charters tells us that the amount of animals on the beach might help us figure out what happened.
He said that if there are really only fifty animals on the beach, then it’s not likely that these animals died because of something natural, like a problem with the water quality. In that case, he says, there should be a lot more.
Smith thinks that what happened in Masonboro was probably an accident involving people, water tools, or boats on the water. He did say, though, that natural reasons can’t be ruled out just yet.
Capt. Smith said, “I can see that they werehed up on one tide cycle and not multiple tide cycles based on the tide line. They werehed up inshore as well.” In the strait, a boat may have cut down its nets.
Or they were stuck during a low tide and had no way to get out. The tide then came up and washed them away. It looks like this happened only to one species.