Nearly 30 dead dogfish sharks wash ashore along Jersey coastline

On Wednesday morning, a large number of dead dogfish sharks appeared on the sands of Sea Isle City, covering an area of about ten blocks. The sharks, each between three and five feet long and weighing eight to twenty-two pounds, are a regular sight along the Jersey Shore during summer months. Marine scientist Stephen Nagiewicz said the deaths could stem from a contaminant in the water, though no illnesses have been linked to the event, or from fishermen inadvertently discarding the fish after capture.

He noted that such accidental releases can cause the animals to float ashore with the tide. Dogfish are often considered bycatch and are sometimes referred to as “junk fish” by local anglers. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Preservation has not responded to inquiries about the incident.