Beachgoers in Provincetown were startled after thousands of squid washed ashore, sparking online rumors. The Provincetown Harbormaster’s Office said it was a “mass spawning die-off” that happens naturally when Atlantic longfin inshore squid spawn close to land
For the third straight morning of surprise, Provincetown’s shoreline looked like something from the ocean’s worst mood—thousands of dead squid strewn across the sand, a scene captured in video clips that spread quickly online.
The post that helped kick off the chatter came from Facebook user Jeff Krehely last Friday morning. In his video, beachgoers can see a large amount of squid scattered on shore, prompting confused and shocked reactions as the images circulated.
The next day, the Provincetown Harbormaster’s Office stepped in with a blunt message: the squid were not dying from a toxic event, red tide, or pollution.
“The squid are NOT dying from a toxic event, red tide, or pollution. This is a completely natural process!” the harbormaster wrote in a statement posted online.
The explanation was rooted in the squid’s own life cycle. As the harbormaster said, Atlantic longfin inshore squid migrate close to land at the end of their lifecycle to spawn. Adults die shortly after spawning, producing what the office called a “mass spawning die-off.”
Under normal circumstances, that die-off occurs underwater, and the dead squid are quickly eaten by other marine animals. But sometimes, the wind and tide line up in a way that causes squid to wash ashore. Once on the beach, the squid are eaten by gulls, crabs, and other shoreline scavengers.
“It’s the circle of life, folks,” the harbormaster wrote. “No need to worry. Mother Nature is just doing her thing.”
The office also told residents what to expect if they’re bothered by the remains. People should anticipate that the dead squid may smell as they break down. Anyone who wants to do something. the harbormaster said. can shovel the squid back into the water—adding that the office said it won’t create adverse effects on the environment.
Longfin squid are found in the Atlantic from Newfoundland all the way down to the Gulf of Venezuela. with the population most abundant between George’s Bank near Cape Cod and Cape Hatteras in North Carolina. They’re also regularly harvested for consumption; around 39 million pounds of longfin squid were caught and sold in the U.S. in 2023.
There’s more to the picture in Provincetown Harbor right now, too. The Center for Coastal Studies posted a video last Thursday showing another squid species—the shortfin variety—chasing bait in the harbor. And elsewhere on Cape Cod, there are reports that beaches in Brewster are full of dead squid.
Taken together, the harbormaster’s message didn’t erase the shock of what people saw on the sand—but it did put the event in a different frame. Instead of a suspected environmental disaster, the office described a natural process that becomes visible only when conditions push the remains onto shore.
Provincetown squid harbormaster mass spawning die-off Atlantic longfin inshore squid red tide pollution George's Bank Cape Cod shortfin squid
So it’s just nature doing nature stuff? Doesn’t make it any less gross.
I saw the video and thought “toxic” immediately. Like they always say it’s not red tide but the timing is too weird. Are they sure it wasn’t pollution from boats or something?
Circle of life yeah ok but thousands is a lot. If it happens naturally underwater why were they all on the beach right there where kids play. Feels like somebody should’ve warned people instead of “no need to worry”.
I read “longfin inshore squid” and my brain went straight to like longfin fish?? Also people are saying Jeff Krehely started it but it’s probably the wind from factories or whatever. Either way that beach is gonna smell awful and the “not toxic” line doesn’t help when you still have dead stuff everywhere.