The Bío Bío region of Chile is facing a large starfish mass die-off.
The dead animals are washing up in hundreds along beaches in the commune of Coronel, scaring residents.
The Sernapesca is now investigating the causes of the massive death of hundreds of star fish.
Experts believe the die-off is due to a storm offshore.
Investigan varazón de estrellas marinas en playa del sector "El Pueblito" de Coronel. Municipio y Sernapesca realizarán estudios para determinar si se trató de fenómeno natural o si existió intervención humana. pic.twitter.com/AYP9fAvvmK
— T13 Concepción (@T13Concepcion) July 17, 2020
The mass death event was discovered on July 16, 2020 in the El Pueblito sector of Playa Blanca.
Sernapesca investiga la masiva varazón de estrellas de mar en playas de Coronel y Lota. Hipótesis inicial obedecería a corrientes marinas, sin embargo, las muestras recogidas serán enviadas a Valparaíso para su análisis. @Cooperativa pic.twitter.com/8qQim4rONW
— Cristofer Espinoza (@CEspinozaQ) July 17, 2020
According to biologists, such mass strandings aren’t so rare around the world – although baffling – and mainly occur in winter.
Well I have never seen so many dead sea stars. What about you?
