Marathon, Florida – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has launched an unprecedented emergency response plan following reports of smalltooth sawfish exhibiting strange behaviors in the waters off South Florida. These behaviors include spinning, whirling, and other abnormal actions that have raised concerns among marine experts.
According to a statement released by NOAA last Wednesday, there have been reports of fish deaths in the lower Florida Keys, with more than 28 smalltooth sawfish among the casualties as of March 24. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is working alongside NOAA to investigate the cause of these abnormal behaviors and fish deaths.
Preliminary necropsy results have ruled out a communicable pathogen or bacterial infections as the cause. Additional tests on water samples have also not revealed any abnormalities in dissolved oxygen, salinity, pH, and temperature that could explain the phenomena observed in the smalltooth sawfish population.
Adam Brame, NOAA Fisheries’ sawfish recovery coordinator, expressed hope for positive outcomes from rescue and rehabilitation efforts to save the endangered smalltooth sawfish from further harm. However, he acknowledged the challenges of rescuing and rehabilitating stranded animals.
The smalltooth sawfish, one of five species of sawfish, inhabits tropical waters and estuaries in the Atlantic Ocean. These unique creatures, resembling a mix between sharks and rays, have faced a significant decline in population due to habitat loss and accidental capture in fisheries.
As part of the emergency response efforts, NOAA plans to rescue and observe smalltooth sawfish in quarantine facilities with the aim of releasing them back into the wild once they have been rehabilitated. The agency’s proactive approach underscores the urgency of protecting this endangered species and understanding the root causes of the recent deaths and behavioral anomalies observed in South Florida’s marine ecosystem.