Dozens of dead dogfish sharks washed ashore on a Sea Isle City, New Jersey, beach, a discovery described as rare by a shark ecologist. The incident involved approximately 29 juvenile dogfish found scattered along a stretch of sand between 29th and 39th streets.

Michele Greenling, the beachgoer who reported the discovery, told CBS Philadelphia that the initial sight of a few dead sharks quickly turned into concern as she encountered more. "The first couple weren't too surprising, but when I saw three and four and five, I knew something was up," Greenling said, adding that she was "concerned about the water. I was concerned about the sharks."

Shark ecologist Mike Heithaus, dean of Florida International University's College of Arts, Sciences & Education, told Fox News Digital that finding such a large number of sharks washed up at once is uncommon. Heithaus noted that dogfish often school together, which could explain why a group might be affected by a single event.

Heithaus suggested that widespread pollution or an environmental toxin is less likely to be the cause, as he would expect to see other marine species affected as well. "The fact that there aren't lots of other different kinds of animals washing up at the same time suggests it's not some kind of pollution or toxin in the environment," he stated. His professional assessment leans towards the possibility that the sharks were caught as bycatch and then discarded. "If I had to make a guess, probably something happened to them, and they were caught — but [they] weren't what people were looking for, and so they got discarded," Heithaus explained.

He advised beachgoers who encounter numerous dead marine animals to notify local authorities or wildlife officials. Heithaus also mentioned that advancements in monitoring buoys and other systems are helping scientists track coastal ocean conditions and identify potential threats more effectively.

Dogfish sharks have a lifespan of 35 to 40 years and are characterized by slow growth and late maturation, according to NOAA Fisheries.