A substance that has been washing up on beaches in Placentia Bay is continuing to mystify officials, but is likely to be organic in nature.

That’s according to Environment and Climate Change Canada in response to numerous reports of weird globs of white, gooey material scattered on beaches throughout the area.

Philip Grace posted a picture of one of the globs to a local beachcombers page on Facebook, describing it as like touton dough. Federal officials say numerous samples have been collected and surveys conducted to determine the extent of the substance’s appearance on local beaches and in the water, and identify its potential source.

Despite those efforts, the mystery remains. The federal department does say however that preliminary lab analysis suggests that the material is “plant based.” The department says more analysis is needed before a final determination can be made on what the globs are, what is causing them, and whether there is any potential impact on the local ecosystem.