Sawfish

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.

Sawfish, and about 30 other species of fish, are turning up sick and dying in the Lower Keys as questions mount over what's causing it. As word and worries spread, scientists are yet to find a smoking gun.

The number of reports of dead or dying endangered sawfish has risen to 39, with 15 bodies retrieved for testing, state wildlife officials said Tuesday.

A new study by the University of Miami and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that tracked sawfish in Biscayne Bay for the first time found sightings increasing, suggesting the bay may provide an important migratory route or other important habitat.

A man has pleaded guilty to killing an endangered fish unique to Florida waters whose extended nose is lined with teeth that resemble a saw.Federal…