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When lightning hits the sea, do fish get electrocuted?

Question

When lightning hits the sea, why don’t fish get electrocuted?
Chris, London

Answer

** Definitive **
Name: Paul, Chiswick
Qualification: I’ve seen it!
Answer: They do get electrocuted. Electricity takes the shortest path to earth, so if there are any fish between the lightning bolt and the sea bed, they will be electrocuted. I saw a fish farm in Denmark in which they put a current through the water to kill the fish. They had large electrodes at each end to ensure all the fish died.