Anywhere from 20 to 50 foreign species have traveled from Japan to Oregon on a dock discovered on Agate Beach June 5, reported the Oregonian. Scientists from Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center have expressed concerns about what these foreign critters could do to the West Coast environment.
The dock, which Japanese officials confirm was one of four the tsunami ripped loose in the northern city of Misawa, washed ashore during the early morning high tide, the newspaper reported.
Oregon biologists started working on killing tons of foreign species attached the concrete and wood dock. They counted 4,000 to 5,000 pounds of the bagged creatures, which they buried in a 10-foot deep pit beyond the high tide line.
Since it landed, the dock has become a tourist attraction. The city is reviewing bids from contractors to remove it.
–Photo by b gallatin, Flickr Creative Commons