Millions Of Dead Fish And Sea Creatures Washed Ashore After Storm Emma

Millions of sea creatures –mostly dead– are just among the casualties of the powerful hurricane in Britain, Storm Emma. Shocking photos of the storm’s aftermath was released, showing marine wildlife, including starfish, lobsters, and razorfish, blanketing the shore of Fraisthorpe beach near Bridlington.

Strong gale force winds, coupled with big tides are believed to have resulted in the massive death toll. Many people came to the scene, carrying boxes and buckets to fill them up with the dead sea creatures.

Beaches on Britain's east coast were populated by dead sea creatures.

Many of the millions of washed up creatures were alive.

Among them are small-size live lobsters, as well as those that carry eggs.

About 80 to 90% of the lobsters are dead, according to a skipper.

The live ones were rescued and will be brought back to sea.

This rescue effort was done by fishermen, led by Jack Sanderson.

Wildlife workers have been helping with the rescue efforts.

Sanderson describes the scene to be similar to a war zone – “total chaos.”

“There was every form of marine life, velvet crabs, lobsters, whelks, scallops, razorfish, Dover soles, cod, ling, wrasse and sand eels.”

“The combination just stunned everything and the direction of the wind has brought it onto the beach. It is still coming out of the sea; every tide is leaving a fresh batch.”

You just can’t count the number of these washed up marine creatures.

The severe weather conditions affected marine life significantly.

Whelks are among the creatures washed up.

This devastating scene showed millions of washed up starfish.

The commercial fisherman was frustrated by the behavior of some people, who had been taking the young live lobsters and taking away those that also carry eggs.

Taking away young live lobsters and those that are carrying the roe is against regulations, Sanderson said.

“Don’t get me wrong – we earn our living from the sea. But the regulations are there for everybody and it’s only us who comply. We will hopefully release some of the lobsters tomorrow. We will go out five or six miles and let them go.”

The "underwater storm" was a result of the combination of strong winds, 6.2-meter tide and dropping sea temperatures.

The millions of dead sea creatures washed up is a reflection of a healthy ocean, Sanderson said.

Sanderson is positive that the marine population will recover quickly.

But he hopes Storm Emma’s wrath wouldn’t significantly affect the industry.

Sanderson and his team placed the live lobsters in tanks at Bridlington harbor. They will be kept there until such time that they are ready to be released back into the sea.