COCOA BEACH, Fla. – After decades of pollution and harmful algae blooms, there are new concerns about dead fish floating in the Indian River Lagoon.
People living and staying in South Cocoa Beach reported seeing “thousands of dead fish” on Saturday and Sunday in the Banana River north of Patrick Space Force Base.
Jacob Flowers from Indiana recorded video outside his room at the Banana River Resort.
“Look at all those dead fish,” the tourist was heard commenting.
The fish kill appeared to be scattered across the middle of the river.
Monday, Brevard County community correspondent James Sparvero only spotted a few fish that had washed up to the shoreline, unlike a large-scale fish kill in the county in 2016.
“This happens maybe once every five years,” Don Bascle told Sparvero. “You can smell the smell. They attract rodents. It also makes us question the health of the water that we live by.”
Sparvero asked Bascle if he would vote for another 10-year sales tax hike, which voters approved after the 2016 fish kill.
Advocates for the tax want to see it renewed after it sunsets next year.
“I think it’s always a good idea to take care of the water,” Bascle said. “As they’re continuing to develop, you’re gonna end up with more runoff. We need to pay more attention to the water behind us.”
Sparvero also asked Brevard County for information about the new fish kill.
“We are aware and are monitoring the situation,” said Rachel Horst, a spokeswoman for the county. “It seems to be a natural occurrence related to low oxygen levels in the water, regular summer precipitation, and high temperatures.”