Emily Chan
The marine research organization is one of several groups collaborating with the NOAA to aid in the emergency response.
Tests of water and tissue samples continue to be conducted in an effort to determine the root of the cause.
The affected sawfish are mainly large juveniles and adults that range in length between seven and 14 feet. Sawfish are a type of fish that has no bones. Instead, their skeletons are made of cartilage.
Smalltooth sawfish can be found in shallow, coastal waters in southwestern Florida. In the past, they also swam along the coast from the United States to Brazil, but now the species is endangered due to overfishing and habitat loss. The deaths of these many sawfish could have a devastating impact on their population recovery.
Additionally, the smalltooth sawfish are a critical component of the environment in which they live. It is unclear what would happen if the species became extinct, but it would likely have a major impact on the ecosystem in South Florida.
Sawfish affected by the spinning disease are being rescued and under close observation in quarantine facilities. Once they are healthy, they can be released back into the wild.
