SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. – Hundreds, if not thousands, of dead fish washed ashore Monday morning on Satellite Beach, prompting wildlife officials to launch an investigation.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said water samples will be taken to determine the cause of the fish kill, which caused a stench on the beach.
Beachgoers said they saw some dead fish on the beach Sunday but were surprised to find hundreds more on Monday morning.
"I counted (Monday) morning when taking a walk (and) there were at least over 300 that I had counted," Shawn Eazor said.
"I don't know what to think," another beachgoer said. "I'm hoping they're not contaminating the water because we like to go out to the beach occasionally."
FWC said although the fish kill remains a mystery, it's common when dense algae blooms.
Many beachgoers said the fish are the same species, but wildlife officials said they're not sure.
"I know that a lot of people have said that they're the same fish, but no one's been able to tell me what kind of fish," said Catalina Brown of the FWC.