Oregon coast awash with dead sharks

[flashl]

Researchers have theories, but no real answers

A number of young sharks are washing up dead on Oregon's beaches this summer but researchers are unsure why.

The dead-shark reports started in mid-August, said Bill Hanshumaker, public marine education specialist at the Hatfield Marine Science Center.

"I've had more reports this summer than I've had since 1993," Hanshumaker told The (Portland) Oregonian.

But researchers have more questions than answers.

One theory is that warmer water this summer lured tuna and other baitfish closer to shore, and the sharks followed. When the sharks die farther offshore, their remains are usually consumed. But when they die close in, they are more likely to wash up.

There have been reports from California of dead sharks testing positive for encephalitis, which can be caused by viral, bacterial or protozoan infections, said Jim Burke, director of animal husbandry at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

(snip)

Also, a whale believed to be a humpback that had been dead for weeks washed up on Del Rey Beach north of Gearhart, Ore., this week.

"It's much too early to speculate," Burke said. "Salmon sharks give live birth right along the coastal area so we often see newborn juvenile sharks wash up. This year there definitely have been quite a few more than usual. It's hard to tell if there have been more born or if there is something gone wrong. "

There is also a report of a sighting in Queens.

[sandnsea]

1. We are not "awash with dead sharks"

The water is warmer and it is creating differences in the marine life, but "awash" is quite an over-statement. At this point, it's just one of those peculiarities that happen in nature from time to time.

[donsu]

2. you wish

the oceans are toxic now and getting worse by the day

[sandnsea]

3. I live on the Oregon coast

We are not awash with dead sharks. There are other serious issues with our fisheries without having people go off on a tangent about what may well be an anomaly.

[flashl]

4. How would you compare a report of "red tide" to this report?

[sandnsea]

5. Depends

on location, size, persistence, frequency, etc. A one time event would be an anomaly that I wouldn't worry about. At this point in time, that's what these few shark incidents are. Not to mention, the water temperature rises that brought the tuna in has already changed. It was fairly short lived, when my husband gets back I can ask him exactly how long it lasted.