Related Videos: Some are killing sawfish on the threat of extinction in Florida, what is it?
st. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The mysterious torment that often dies as a prehistoric, endangered tiny rockfish spins irregularly in Florida waters, appears to have recorded more than 50 deaths last year.
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Following a lull of about nine months, there have been 22 reports of strange rotational behavior involving saws in waters around the Florida Key since December, the state’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported. This recent outbreak reported deaths of six saws.
It is unclear what caused the issue that killed at least 54 Sawfish last year. The agency reported that there was no conclusive check for issues such as parasites, bacteria, viruses, and more than 250 chemicals, as well as toxic red tides.
“Scientists have found some subtle changes in the brain tissue of affected fish, but more research is needed,” the agency said in a statement.
Sawfish, associated with rays, skates and sharks, are named after the elongated flat nose, which contains rows of teeth on either side. Sawfish has been around for millions of years, has lived for decades, and has grown quite large as 17 feet. They were once abundant off the coast of the southeastern United States, but are now located primarily in the Keys Island chain, off the coast of southwestern Florida and as habitat shrinks.
Since December 2023, over 500 reports have been recorded for spinning fish and other species.
Following his initial death, state legislators approved $2 million to fund an investigation into Sawfish’s death in Miami, Florida Bay and Biscayne Bay near Florida Keys. According to the FWC, some of the money will be sent to local fishing guides for water sampling and other tasks. There is also a saw-tooth hotline for people to report spinning or swirling fish.
One theory is that last year, a long heat wave blamed on bleached corals, largely due to climate change, could have altered the algae in the seawater, especially near the seabed where saurus is common. Like a ray of light, the saw gills are on the bottom, so intake is frequently at the bottom.
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“Scientists have discovered many algal toxins in fish tissues, which are currently under investigation as potential causes,” the FWC said.
Smalltooth Sawfish has been on the US Endangered Species List since 2003. Florida prohibits intentionally capture, harm or harass Sawfish.
In recent years, blackmailed manatees have suffered major deaths in Florida waters as pollution killed many of the sea grass’s food sources. State and federal officials have fed a large amount of lettuce to manatees gathered in winter outside the power plant for two years, and manatees have recovered somewhat, with 565 deaths recorded in 2024 compared to the 2021 record of 1,100.
