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A disturbing mystery is unfolding in the Sunshine State of Florida. Reports of rare sawfish in distress and dying have risen to a shocking number (39), sending shockwaves through the scientific community as researchers scramble to uncover the cause behind this devastating phenomenon.
As of Tuesday, a team of experts led by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had pulled out 15 smalltooth sawfish for testing. Tom Matthews, a biologist at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, emphasized the urgency of the situation: “Are the two related? We can’t say that for sure, but we are pursuing this with every means at our disposal.”
The saga began in early November when strange behavior was observed among various fish species, with the fish exhibiting a disorienting spinning movement that occurred mostly at night. The Bonefish Tarpon Trust is mobilizing an investigation team as reports come in from the Lower Keys Guides Association. But things took a terrible turn when the first dead sawfish was discovered more than two months later on January 30. Since then, increasing numbers of distressed or dead sawfish have raised serious concerns among scientists.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Dr. Dean Grubbs, a fisheries ecologist at Florida State University, expressed deep concern over the situation, highlighting the critical status of the sawfish worldwide. “There are five species of sawfish in the world. It is. And they’re all listed as endangered or critically endangered,” lamented Grubbs, a member of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s sawfish recovery team. The smalltooth sawfish, in particular, is facing near-extinction due to factors such as bycatch and habitat degradation, which led to their addition to the endangered species list in 2003. “So an event like this where all of a sudden quite large animals die inexplicably is of great concern.’
Despite conservation efforts and gradual population recovery, adult sawfish remain elusive creatures, leaving researchers puzzled as to why they might be succumbing to the same mysterious affliction affecting other fish in the Lower Keys. “Even though they lie on the bottom, they are very mobile. They can move fast. So why they wouldn’t move out of an area that potentially has something toxic in it, I don’t know,” Grubbs complained. Since most of the dead sawfish and other affected species are concentrated between Bahia Honda and Key West, he believes the current events appear to be localized to that particular area.
Initial research points to a single-celled algae known for its association with ciguatera, a naturally occurring toxin found in reef fish. However, Mike Parsons, an algae expert at Florida Gulf Coast University, says it’s a complicated situation: “One toxin is not toxic to everything. So is this a fish-specific toxin?” The toxin’s unusual effect on the fish, potentially through gill absorption rather than ingestion, presents a new challenge for researchers. “We realize there are other potential answers, and we just have to see if there is enough information to continue down that path, or we’re barking up the wrong tree and we’ll have to switch.” But right now we’re looking at this tree.
So far, the impact on local ecosystems and fishing communities is alarming. Capt. Benny Blanco expressed frustration at the delayed response from government officials, highlighting the detrimental effect on fishing livelihoods. “All the guides down there are extremely concerned because it’s affecting the bait fish and the crustaceans. This is a major concern for their fishery,” noted Blanco. “When the leaders shout [about this situation]The FWC needs to release the station wagon – and it took them too long.”
As scientists continue to unravel this ecological puzzle, the urgent need to protect the future of these sawfish and the delicate balance of marine ecosystems in the Florida Keys can be felt throughout the community. During their recent expedition to the Keys, Grubbs’ research team successfully caught and tagged eleven healthy sawfish about 14 miles east near Marathon. “The largest was 14 feet long and they all looked perfectly healthy,” he reported. “So, of course, the hope is that whatever is causing this doesn’t spread further up the Keys.”
Report all healthy, sick, injured or dead sawfish to the FWC’s Sawfish Hotline at 844-472-9374 or by email at [email protected] with the date, time and location of the encounter, expected length, depth of the water and any other important details. Under the Endangered Species Act, it is illegal to capture, injure, harass or kill endangered fish. It is also illegal to possess, sell, carry or transport a sawfish or parts of a sawfish — such as a sawfish (snout). While some fishermen catch sawfish as bycatch, they can follow safe handling and release guidelines to quickly and safely release bycatch sawfish. If you notice unusual fish behavior, fish disease, and fish kills, report them to the FWC Fish Kill Hotline either through the MyFWC.com/ReportFishKill web form or by phone at 800-636-0511.
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