MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. (AP) - Authorities in Brevard County are putting together a plan to clean up after a fish kill left carcasses floating in the Indian and Banana rivers near Merritt Island.
Florida Today (on.flatoday.com/1o3NT4N) reports up to 15 species of fish are dead or dying in the rivers. They began dying last week.
Nearby residents told the newspaper the fish kill has left a tremendous stench over the area.
A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman says the agency started investigation after receiving calls about dead puffer fish.
The cause of the fish kill isn't immediately known. But the Indian River Lagoon has been experiencing a brown tide, which leaves behind clumps of rotted vegetation and depleted oxygen levels.
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Information from: Florida Today (Melbourne, Fla.), http://www.floridatoday.com
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Massive fish kill at Patrick Air Force Base right now. Spread the word and save our lagoon. Please retweet pic.twitter.com/NduTOfuKJM
— Indian River Lagoon (@Flordia_IRL) March 21, 2016
