A frenzy of fish captured people鈥檚 attention on White Rock鈥檚 waterfront Christmas Day 鈥� and much later into the evening.

The small swimmers 鈥� which the department of fisheries and oceans have identified as anchovy 鈥� have drawn dozens of seals and sea lions to Semiahmoo Bay in recent weeks, to dine on the shimmery creatures.

But while daytime photos and video submitted to Peace Arch News from Christmas Day show a flurry of activity as the fish circled and writhed through the waters, photos from around midnight depict a stark contrast; all of dead fish.

鈥淢illions of fish on the White Rock beach at midnight at low tide last night,鈥� writes Su Gu in a morning email to PAN Dec. 26.

鈥淣ever seen anything like this here.鈥�

Fisheries researchers describe the situation as a natural occurrence. UBC鈥檚 director of marine mammal research Andrew Trites told CTV it was likely due to the large number of the anchovies in one area depleting the oxygen, causing many of the fish to suffocate.

Friday, the flurry of sea lion and seagull activity continued, as did people flocking to the waterfront to witness it.

鈥淭his is awesome,鈥� said one young visitor as a sea lion surfaced briefly near the pier after fetching a mouthful of the tasty treats.

鈥淣om nom,鈥� said another passerby.

Luva Lynne Atitlan, who came down with her partner Don Sturgeon to see the excitement for herself after reading about it in PAN, said the scene is one she鈥檚 never witnessed in her nearly four decades in White Rock.

鈥淚鈥檝e lived here (36) years and this is the first time I ever saw seals off the pier,鈥� she said.

鈥淚 said, 鈥榳e just have to go down and see it,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 lovely for everyone.鈥�

Steve Puleo visited to take advantage of the anchovies鈥� demise, filling a bucket with the tiny carcasses to use for fertilizer in his garden.

He said while the smelts come in every year, he, too, has 鈥渘ever鈥� witnessed the likes of what鈥檚 been seen this time around.

Add in the sea lion activity and 鈥渋t鈥檚 really quite spectacular,鈥� he said.