What's up with dead lobsters found on California beach?

"While state officials are monitoring the situation, thus far they say there is no cause for alarm. California State Parks has not observed anything unusual or concerning related to marine life at San Onofre State Beach, a parks spokesperson said in an email to the Union-Tribune. While staff have seen lobster exoskeletons along the shoreline, these observations are consistent with typical conditions and do not indicate an abnormal mortality event."

"The Union-Tribune also reached out to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. A spokesperson said the department is looking into it and has passed information along to its marine division. The spokesperson went on to say it would not be uncommon as seals and sea lions feed on lobster as well as other wildlife and we have had some larger swells recently due to the weather systems offshore that can stir the water up as well."

"Roger Johnson, a retired neuroscience professor who lives in San Clemente, learned of the carcasses on Dec. 20 after his daughter strolled along the beach and took photographs. Johnson wonders if the deaths are somehow related to a recent liquid batch release of wastewater from SONGS. I'm raising the question, considering they did a release the week before and then having all those lobster die, said Johnson, a longtime opponent of nuclear power. Maybe the lobster die all the time, I don't know."

Large numbers of lobster carcasses and exoskeletons washed ashore in recent days at San Onofre State Beach. California State Parks staff observed exoskeletons but found conditions consistent with normal shoreline occurrences and no indication of an abnormal mortality event. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is investigating and has passed information to its marine division. Authorities noted seals and sea lions commonly feed on lobsters and recent larger swells can stir up marine life. Many husks were found near and north of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. SONGS has discharged wastewater through conduits that send discharges more than one mile offshore. Local residents questioned a temporal link between a recent liquid batch release and the strandings.

Read at www.sandiegouniontribune.com