Mass starfish stranding on Noordwijk beach
Thousands of starfish washed ashore on Tuesday in Noordwijk, creating a visual feast for beachgoers and a literal feast for...
On Tuesday, thousands of starfish washed up on the beach in Noordwijk, Netherlands, drawing the attention of beachgoers and providing a meal for seagulls. The strong winds and currents from recent storms, including storm Boelo over the weekend, are believed to have dislodged the starfish from the seabed and carried them towards the shore.
Such mass starfish strandings are not uncommon on Dutch beaches, especially after storms. Once the water level rises, the starfish typically return to the sea, although many die on land, providing a feast for birds. While this phenomenon usually occurs four to eight times a year and is a natural occurrence, experts warn that it could become more frequent due to climate change, potentially causing issues in the ecosystem.
Starfish feed on mussels, so their presence on the shore can lead to an increase in mussel population and risk of disease outbreaks. DutchNews.org relies on reader support to report on issues important to the community and provide daily summaries of Dutch news. Your donations are crucial in helping us continue our work.
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