Hundreds of Dead Catsharks, Other Fish Discarded in Fishing By-Catch, Wash Ashore on Welsh Beaches

Hundreds of dead sharks and various other fish have appeared on beaches across Wales, with recent discoveries sparking concern among local residents and conservationists.

Pauline Morris encountered a significant quantity of dead marine life, entangled in a large net, during a walk on Pembrey Beach in Carmarthenshire on Saturday. Morris, from Aberdare, described the sight as “horrible” and “shocking,” noting the extensive area covered by the washed-up fish.

This incident follows a similar discovery last week at Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire, where another walker found a large pile of deceased marine animals, primarily identified as catshark, also known as dogfish.

Cliff Benson, founder of Sea Trust Wales, confirmed that many of the washed-up fish were catshark. He reported the Saundersfoot discovery to Natural Resources Wales (NRW) after images circulated on social media, speculating the origin could be a trawler.

NRW stated that while the Pembrey Beach incident had not been reported directly to them, the visual evidence suggested discarded fishing by-catch or a lost catch. Regarding the Saundersfoot findings, an NRW officer visited the beach but found no trace of the animals, as they had been returned to the sea by the tides.

A spokesperson for NRW confirmed an investigation into the Saundersfoot reports found no evidence of a pollution incident. They concluded, “The fish appear to be dogfish, and this is likely linked to fishing by-catch being discarded at sea.” NRW indicated that no wider environmental impacts were identified and that local authorities and partners had been informed.