June 16, 2025 — Scientists made a disturbing discovery inside the stomach of a deep-sea fish that washed ashore on an Oregon beach.
What’s happening?
Back in April, Seaside Aquarium made a Facebook post announcing that a longnose lancetfish had washed up on a nearby beach. The long, serpent-like fish with a mouth full of fangs is known as food for predators like sharks, tuna, and other longnose lancetfish. This particular fish measured about five feet long.
The post also shared photos of what was found when researchers analyzed the content of the fish’s stomach. They found items standard to the fish’s diet, like fish and squid. But they also found something more sinister: bits of plastic.
“We also know that they are not picky eaters,” wrote Seaside Aquarium. “They are known to eat over 90 different species of marine life, including each other, and unfortunately, are attracted to plastics.”