Rare fish wash up along South Africa's beaches

Fishermen have reported rare fish washing up on beaches on South Africa's Eastern Cape after what experts say is a drop in surface water temperature.

Two giant manta rays and three so-called tooth puffers are among 60 different species found washed ashore that have been documented by the East London Museum's natural scientist Kevin Cole.

He told the BBC's Newsday programme that surface temperatures have dropped from approximately 26C down to 14C and even 12C.

The South African Institute for Marine Biological Research explained on its Facebook page that prolonged, strong north-easterly winds caused colder water to rise up to the surface.

"This event is a natural phenomenon and there's not much that we can do about it, it's just part of the ocean system," Mr Cole added on Newsday.

He did however say that there is one thing that people have been able to control - documenting the effect.

"There's been an improved observer effort - a lot of people have cell phones, they are able to take photographs," he said.