Sand eels on beach on hottest day of year

These silvery fish have been spotted on Sunderland’s shores today as people flocked to out coast to enjoy the hottest day of the year yet.

The sand eels have been seen at Whitburn Bents and Roker after hatching from the beach, with shoals seen by visitors as they take a paddle and walk along the tideline – although some have told the Echo hundreds of them have not survived.

Today’s temperatures have reached up to 28C, with tomorrow expected to be another day, if a little cooler at 22C.

Reader Ayla Malia shared a photo she took of the fish at Whitburnandsaidshefound many which were dead.

The Wildlife Trust say the fish, which cover many species and feed on plankton, can reach around 20cm in length and are an important part of our marine ecosystem, as the success of the UK’s breeding seabirds entirely depends on them.

The fish – which are not eels, but look like them – can be seen in large shoals near the seabed in summer months and are especially abundant in the North Sea, are expected to continue to decline as the water gets warmer.

The organisationsays:“Theyare distinctively slender with a pointed snout–givingthem an eel-like shape.

"Between April and September they swim in large shoals close to the seabed and will burrow into the sand to escape predators.

"In the winter months, they bury themselves up to 50cm in the sand.

"They are an incredibly importantpartofthemarine ecosystemandareafavourite food of puffins, harbour porpoises, terns, pollack and mackerel.”