INDIAN RIVER COUNTY —A large fish kill mostly affecting hardhead catfish is taking place in the Indian River lagoon.
While the cause is yet to be determined, Vero environmentalist and yacht broker Brendan Burke says a virus is suspected.
“Florida Fish and Wildlife are collecting dead fish now and trying to catch some live ones that may have been affected to see if they can figure out what is going on,” Burke says.
Large numbers of dead fish have washed up on shore near the 17th Street Bridge and between the two bridges. Some reports say the kill extends from Fort Pierce to Sebastian.
“I am getting ready to get with Lange [Sykes, president of the Treasure Coast chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association] to go out in my boat and see what we can find out,” Burke told Veornews.com in a hurried phone call. “Something similar to this happened 15 years ago, but whether is the exact same cause, we don’t know.”
Dr. Grant Gilmore, Senior Scientist, Estuarine, Coastal and Ocean Science, who is considered the foremost authority on fish in the lagoon, is among those investigating the kill.