Local News
Experts said the “die-off” was completely natural.
Thousands of squid washed up in Provincetown, the result of a “mass spawning die-off,” according to the Provincetown Harbormaster’s Office. Jeff Krehely
Beachgoers in Provincetown experienced a surprise Friday when thousands of squid were found washed up on the shore. The legions of dead cephalopods sparked ample discussion on social media and plenty of rumors, but experts say the event was perfectly normal.
Facebook user Jeff Krehely posted a video clip online last Friday morning showing a copious amount of squid strewn about the sand, one of multiple clips circling the internet that garnered confused and shocked reactions.
The next day, the Provincetown Harbormaster’s Office cleared the air in a statement posted online.
“The squid are NOT dying from a toxic event, red tide, or pollution. This is a completely natural process!” the harbormaster wrote.
At the end of their lifecycle, Atlantic longfin inshore squid migrate close to land in order to spawn, the harbormaster explained. Adults die shortly after spawning more squid. This “mass spawning die-off” normally occurs underwater, and the dead squid are quickly eaten by a number of other marine animals.
But sometimes, the wind and tide align in a way that causes the squid to wash ashore. There, they are eaten by gulls, crabs, and any number of other shoreline scavengers.
“It’s the circle of life, folks,” the harbormaster wrote, “No need to worry. Mother Nature is just doing her thing.”
The harbormaster said that people should expect the dead squid to smell a bit as they break down. Anyone bothered by the squid can shovel them back into the water, something that the office said won’t create any adverse effects on the environment.
Longfin squid are found in the Atlantic from Newfoundland all the way down to the Gulf of Venezuela, but are most abundant between George’s Bank near Cape Cod and Cape Hatteras in North Carolina. They are regularly harvested for consumption, with around 39 million pounds of longfin squid caught and sold in the U.S. in 2023 alone.
Another squid species, the shortfin variety, are also active in Provincetown Harbor at the moment. The Center for Coastal Studies posted a video last Thursday showing the creatures chasing bait in the harbor. Elsewhere on the Cape, there are reports that beaches in Brewster are full of dead squid.
Ross Cristantiello
Ross Cristantiello, a general assignment news reporter for Boston.com since 2022, covers local politics, crime, the environment, and more.
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