Thousands of dead fish are turning up in the Indian River Lagoon over the past several days, leaving carcasses along the shoreline and a smell that will take your breath away.
The images are disturbing: Countless dead fish line the banks of the Banana River near Port Canaveral.
"The lagoon is crying for help, and we're the cause," said Dustin Rapp, who runs Time and Tide Tours and conducts eco-tours of the Indian River Lagoon.
Rapp brought customers in through the Canaveral Lock on Sunday. The sight and smell of rotting fish was prevalent.
"Every one of my clients' shirts was over their noses — (they were) coughing and gagging," he said. "It made me feel embarrassed."
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sent biologists to Brevard County to figure out what's going on with the brown tide. Past studies have shown a massive underwater algae bloom that is killing sea grass and soaking up oxygen, which gives fish nothing to breathe.
Fishermen in the county are also concerned about the type of fish that are being killed. The fish kill included red drum, which are generally tough fish.
"This is the No. 1 sought-after fish in the Indian and Banana rivers," Rapp said.
If the fish keep dying, visitors might stay away. That worries Rapp, but he's hoping getting the word out will be the springboard needed to convince state and local leaders that something needs to be done.
"I'm trying to contact the people that have a bigger voice than us," Rapp said.
A rally will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 26, at the intersection of State Road 520 and A1A. It's being called "Stand for our Lagoons."
To report fish kills, call Fish and Wildlife's fish kill hotline at 800-636-0511.
Another picture of the fish kill in Cocoa Beach. (Jody Dillon, viewer)