Thousands of starfish have been found dead on Kirkcaldy beach in Fife, Scotland, following heavy seas and strong currents, according to experts. The mass stranding occurred yesterday, with many of the invertebrates thrown onto the paved footpath above the beach by large waves.
Local resident Helen Clark, 86, who has lived in Kirkcaldy for about 50 years, said she had never seen anything like it. Her son Andrew, 61, from nearby Inverkeithing, described the event as "very unusual" and expressed concern about the cause of the deaths.
Professor David Ferrier from the Scottish Oceans Institute at the University of St Andrews said the heavy seas are a "likely explanation" for the stranding. He noted that starfish can survive out of water for only a few minutes if completely dry, and advised that any still alive should be returned to the sea.
Dr Lyndsey Dodds, oceans recovery policy manager at WWF Scotland, said such strandings are typically caused by storm activity. She warned that climate change is leading to more frequent storms, which could increase impacts on marine life.
