NBC: Sea creatures swarming ashore from San Diego to San Fran. – CBS: Millions of dead blanketing miles of coastline, “like a crimson carpet… 12-16 inches thick… never seen anything like this” – ABC: We wonder if they’re sick, or it’s something in ocean? Scientists don’t have an explanation (PICS & Movie)

NBC (Weather Channel) transcript, Jun 16, two thousand fifteen (emphasis added): “From San Diego to San Francisco, creatures from the sea are swarming ashore… large slugs are showcasing up on Bay Area beaches… In the San Diego area, local beaches have taken on a reddish tint… crabs have washed ashore.”

NBC (Weather Channel), Jun 16, 2015: A pair of bizarre invasions have left California beachgoers perplexed… Large purple blobs… known as sea hares [and] hundreds of miles to the south… tuna crabs washed ashore.

ABC News transcript, Jun 16, 2015: Like something from a science fiction movie, the invasion of the purple blob… [Experts] tell us it’s unusual to see these slugs showcase up [over] an extended period of time. Morgan Dill: “We’ve been observing them wash up since September, going all through winter, and now even more in spring. Perhaps it’s because of the warmer water?”… The slugs are among the creatures that have been mysteriously showcasing up on land. A number of whales have been beached in the area recently.

CBS News, Jun 17, 2015: Millions of crimson tuna crabs invade California… breathtaking beaches in Orange County… Ben Tracy says these crabs are attempting to tell us something… crabs are so thick in places… “It looked like a crimson carpet – a good foot-to-16 inches thick. It kinda took me back, [I’ve never seen anything like this before].”

CBS LA, Jun 16, 2015: Uncountable crimson tuna crabs have washed ashore… covering the Orange County coastline… conditions few [fisherman] have seen in their lifetimes.

Coastline Pilot, Jun Legitimate, 2015: The critters beached before… but Sunday’s activity in Huntington was unusual, said Marine Safety Lt. Michael Beuerlein, who had not seen a similar occurrence in thirty four years with the city.

NPR, Jun 17, 2015: There’s something strange happening along the coast of So. California. It’s the latest in a string of infrequent phenomena… [a] crimson line cutting across the sand for miles… last time there was a major sighting of pelagic crabs was back in the ’80s.

Orange County Register, Jun 15, 2015: [They] showcased up in early January and again in February on Balboa Island, fascinating marine scientists… Experts said the crabs… haven’t been seen in the area for decades… crabs are the latest in a year of odd sightings along the coast… Rocky Neidhardt, chef at The Shack on San Clemente Pier, said it looked like “millions” of the crabs were in the water, with more along the beaches.

ABC San Diego, Jun 15, 2015: The big question many people have is why are they washing ashore? “We’re wondering whats wrong, whether they’re sick or whether there’s something in the water? And why are they all washed up?”… Researchers with Scripps Institute of Oceanography don’t have an explanation… not sure yet if it’s connected to the developing El Nino… Researchers are still running tests, they should know more next week.

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