A dead marlin fish has been found washed up on Cheynes Beach, about 60km east of Albany, in what government officials have dubbed a “not common” sighting.
Bayonet Head resident Melissa Pope discovered the body of the 2m fish when driving along the beach with her dog Hope on Saturday.
“I was driving down Cheynes near the Bluff Creek end and saw it washed up there,” Ms Pope said.
“I thought it was a little bit odd to see.
“I’d say it had only been on the beach for a day or two but it had already started smelling, so it was probably dead when it washed up.
“I haven’t seen anything like it before down here.”
A Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development spokesperson said the marlin’s appearance could be attributed to warmer currents.
“DPIRD staff from Albany say it’s not common for marlin to be found washed up on the south coast but it does happen and events like this are usually associated with years when there’s a stronger than normal Leeuwin Current running along the WA coast that brings warmer water south,” they said.
“With sightings like these, we urge people to go to Redmap Australia – Redmap, attach a photo and report what they’ve seen and the location.”
The marlin is the second unusual fish to be reported washed up on southern beaches this month, with a mola mola sunfish found on Lowlands Beach on March 18.
In July 2020, a 3.8m long 280kg blue marlin was found washed up at Middleton Beach near Griffiths Street.
Several blue marlin washed up in the Albany area between 2013 and 2015 after a marine heatwave, one of which was believed to be the biggest recorded in Australia at 540kg.