Dozens of small sharks wash up dead on UK beach leaving locals stunned

08 June 2023 , 06:52

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Dozens of small sharks wash up dead on UK beach leaving locals stunned

There’s been heartbreak as dozens of sharks have washed up onto a UK beach.

Locals were shocked to discover up to 30 sharks scattered across the sand at a Prestatyn beach, in Denbighshire.

Passers-by and dog walkers spotted the small sharks, believed to be starry smooth-hounds - due to their speckled white spots - on Tuesday morning.

Numerous pictures and videos were shared on social media by shocked residents.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) has been notified and a marine expert has been to the site to take samples.

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Its North Wales Coordinator, Gem Simmons, urged people to avoid touching the sharks, due to the fact they could carry zoonotic diseases, or moving them from the beach.

A smooth-hound shark that washed up on Prestatyn Beach (Sharon Foston)

An investigation is currently underway, according to NorthWalesLive.

Smooth-hound sharks are common in UK waters and mostly feed on crustaceans and shellfish.

They live in coastal waters at depths of between 5m and 200m, on gravel or sandy bottoms, and measure between one and one and a half metres, weighing up to 4.8kg.

Locals were shocked as dozens of sharks were scattered across the beach (Sharon Foston)

Other, similar sharks, have washed up on the beach in the past but not in such large numbers.

BDLMR has been approached for comment.

Harri Evans