CBS New York: Scientists Examining Spike In Marine Life Deaths On L.I.

“Sea animals are being rescued, rehabilitated and returned to the wild. But since January, many of the marine strandings resulted in death. Now there’s a push to solve the disturbing puzzle. It’s an unusual spike in marine life deaths. One day alone this week, eight beached animals washed up on Long Island‘s north and south forks.

‘The data’s important. Already, these numbers have almost tripled?’ CBS2’s Jennifer McLogan asked marine scientist Robert DiGiovanni of the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society.

‘It looks like three times what it was this time last year. So we are at 63 animals that we have responded to, that have washed up dead on our beaches,” DiGiovanni said.

DiGiovanni says there are fluctuations through the decades, and his group is in search of answers.

‘Understanding why these animals strand. Is it a variety of reasons or just one cause?’ he said.”

Watch the CBS New York story featuring Atlantic Marine Conservation Society here.