Sawfish

Sawfish, members of the stingray family, were once a common sight off Florida's coastline, but they have been unintentionally overfished. Marine biologists are working to learn more about the elusive fish.

Nearly two years after an unprecedented die-off of endangered smalltooth sawfish, scientists are still investigating conditions that caused the deaths and how to better predict and prevent future outbreaks.

One sawfish died and three were reported in distress in waters around the Florida Keys in April.

This winter's deaths come nearly six months after a mysteriously ailment linked to toxic algae killed more than 50 endangered sawfish around the Florida Keys.

In a report Tuesday, the Florida Keys Wildlife Research Institute said no new sawfish deaths have been reported since June. But exactly what caused the startling behavior remains unknown.

Batches of emails obtained by the Tampa Bay Times reveal eyewitness accounts from a mysterious fish die-off in the Florida Keys.

Wildlife officials said after more than three weeks of care at Mote Marine Lab in Sarasota, the sawfish — brought in after first-of-its kind rescue — was euthanized as its condition deteriorated.

With the cause of the deaths still unknown, officials say over 50 species have been affected. Meantime, a sawfish pulled from waters off Cudjoe Key this month is recovering at a Mote Marine facility.

At least 38 smalltooth sawfish have been found dead in South Florida waters since January, but the actual total of deaths is believed to be higher.

At least 32 of the endangered sawfish have been reported dead. The cause of their bizarre behavior remains a mystery.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Wednesday it will take the unprecedented step of catching and caring for sick sawfish in an effort to prevent ongoing deaths.

Overwhelmed experts are baffled over a trail of sick or dead sawfish that has stretched across 78 miles of shallow water in the Keys. The mystery is also stressing dozens of other fish species.