Newfoundland residents discover strange 'white blobs' washing up on beaches

Residents of Newfoundland, Canada discovered unusual white blobs washing up on their beaches, prompting an investigation by officials.

Reports of the strange substance began surfacing around early September along Placentia Bay. Preliminary tests by Ottawa officials suggest it is "plant-based," but they have yet to determine its exact nature. Speculation on social media has run wild, with suggestions ranging from fungus and mould to ambergris, a substance produced by whales and used in perfumery.

Stan Tobin, a local, described the blobs as "doughy—like someone had tried to bake bread and done a lousy job." The blobs also have a distinct odour reminiscent of vegetable oil.

Tobin, an environmentalist from Ship Cove, discovered the blobs during one of his beach walks, initially mistaking them for Styrofoam. “I’ve come across hundreds and hundreds of globs—big globs, little globs,” he said, noting that most are about 6 inches in diameter, as reported by BBC.

Dave McGrath, another local, described the blobs as “spongy and firm inside,” resembling pancakes before flipping. Despite having reported the findings to the Coast Guard, officials have been unable to identify the source of the blobs, leading to concerns about their safety.

The last time Newfoundland saw blob-related things was in 2001 when a large mass was discovered, later found to be part of a decomposing sperm whale. However, these new blobs are not linked to whales.