Squid found on Surf City sands

Jose Paul Corona

Squid have been washing up on the shores of Huntington Beach.

At least twice this week, large numbers of squid, measuring about

a foot in length, have washed up onto the city’s beaches.

The reason for their sudden appearance isn’t known, but it has

happened for the last two or three years, said Larry Neishi, the

city’s beach operation supervisor.

Neishi supervises a crew of men who are responsible for keeping

the beach clean.

They found about 30 dead squid earlier this week while they were

doing their daily patrols of the beach, he said.

When dead squid are found they are usually collected and buried,

Neishi added.

Although it’s happened in the past, dead squid washing up onshore

is not a regular occurrence.

“We get dead seals, but not dead squid,” Neishi said. “It’s kind

of unusual.”

Neishi expects more squid to wash up onto the beach. It would make

sense for there to be residual squid when such a large amount of dead

ones have washed up, he said.

Although such a large amount of dead squid hasn’t washed up onto

the beach in recent memory, Neishi recalls it happening about 10 or

15 years ago when he was part of the beach maintenance crew.

“It definitely comes in waves,” said marine safety chief Steve

Seim, “It’s been a while since it happened.”

Neishi has heard theories that El Nino has contributed to the

death of the squid, but he doesn’t seem to believe it.

“Maybe that’s not a good theory,” he said.