The Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission along with researchers are trying to figure out what caused the deaths of 20 endangered sawfish found in the
Florida Keys within the last six weeks. Some researchers believe an algae toxin may be causing the deaths, but still no one is sure.
Smalltooth sawfish are typically around 11 or 12 feet long and swim like sharks, but are actually a type of Ray and known for their long, flattened, toothed rostrum that looks like a saw. Seeing one is a majestic sight and usually extremely rare, but it's been more common and that's not good for the species which is used to deep waters.
"A number of them have been essentially beaching themselves. They're coming in really shallow, so shallow they can't swim," said Dr. Dean Grubbs, the associate director of research for Florida State University's Coastal and Marine Laboratory. "They're also showing really odd behaviors, like swimming in circles."
Grubbs was just in the Florida Keys last month doing research when he came across one of the 20 dead sawfish.
"The rostrum is up out of the water, kind of swiping at the air as they swim in circles. Right now, we still don't have any idea, you know, what's causing it," Grubbs said.
Since 1992, Smalltooth sawfish have been protected from harvest in Florida, and since 2003, listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
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