Wallace Woodward, who has lived in the small community northwest of St. Anthony for most of his 52 years, says no one can remember such a thing happening before.
Last week, the carcasses of several seals lolled about in the breakwater; some had been pushed ashore by strong waves and others were buried under three feet of seaweed.
And it’s not just harp seals that have been swept into the harbour — hundreds of dead catfish have washed onto land, becoming entangled with the seaweed strewn along the shore.
A myriad of other marine life, like sea slugs, sea urchins and starfish have also perished in the past three weeks.
“I’ve never seen anything like it, b’y, in all my years,” Woodward said Thursday, “It’s just unbelievable.”
The former fisherman said the catfish appeared to be malnourished and skinny, suggesting they may have been struggling to find food.
