GALES BLOW MILLIONS OF SHELLFISH ASHORE AT ROSSLARE
SHELLFISH stocks off Rosslare Strand were badly hit over the weekend when millions were driven ashore after days of north westerly gales.
The phenomenon provided a fishy feast for squadrons of seabirds which flocked to the beach.
However, the downside was the stench of rotting shellfish, mainly sand gapers, which pervaded the strand for many hours over Saturday and Sunday, and was still noticeable yesterday (Monday).
Local people said a combination of factors was to blame for the phenomenon – tide, wind and possibly dredging at Rosslare Harbour but port captain Aedan Jameson said dredging had nothing to do with it and it was mainly down to the very strong north easterly gales which had blown over the past couple of weeks which had churned up the sea bottom.
‘It was an amazing sight, but the fishy smell would get up your nose,’ said Rosslare resident Ray Flynn.
Captain Jameson said that at their height the gales had blown shorewards at 50 knots.
Alestren Lovett said there were millions of shellfish, mainly sand gapers, up to two to three feet deep against the groynes.
Other shellfish caught up in the storm included welchs, clams, mussels, barnacles and razor clams, although hermit crabs and starfish also took a battering.
Photographs by John Holden (below) and Alestren Lovett (left)