Commissioners decide not to request state of emergency for fish kill

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Since a massive fish kill in Brevard County, more than 65,000 pounds of dead fish have been hauled off from the banks of the Indian River Lagoon and Banana River.

The Brevard County Commission met Tuesday to discuss the issue, which experts believe was caused by a brown algae bloom that lowered oxygen levels in the water, killing the fish.

By the end of the meeting, commissioners decided on a 4-1 vote that a state of emergency was not necessary.

Hundreds of concerned residents showed up at the meeting.

Photos: Fish kill in the Indian River Lagoon 

Photos: Chain gang helps clean dead fish 

A presenter with the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program told the commission he did not think the algae bloom was over, and could get worse in the months to come.

“We have no idea how bad it is. One of our commercial guys picking up fish said they found a spot 5-feet deep with carcasses underneath them,” said environmental activist Marty Baum.

County leaders debated asking Florida Gov. Rick Scott to declare a state of emergency.

“For environment reasons, for economic reasons, I’m trying to declare a state of emergency. If you guys don’t want to, that’s OK,” said Commissioner Trudie Infantini.

While most of the packed crowd supported the idea, the other commissioners didn’t think the problem rose to that level.

“I don’t think we need to say state of emergency because it doesn’t represent the entire Indian River Lagoon,” said Commissioner Andy Anderson.

The state has given $80 million in funding to take care of the Indian River Lagoon, but the fish kill is not a hazard to residents, so commissioners did not think a state of emergency was necessary.

Instead, commissioners feel it requires a more long-term solution and agreed to take other measures, like banning fertilizers through October, and asking the state to designate $200 million for the lagoon.

“Fish and Wildlife is there working with the County Commission,” Scott said Monday. “The St. John Water Management is there, the Department of Environmental Protection is there. It’s not an issue with regard to the health of humans.”

Tuesday’s meeting started about 9 a.m. and continued through the morning for more than 2 1/2 hours.

Upset residents called the commissioners’ solution the equivalent of, “kicking the can down the road.”

County residents gave other thoughts on possible solutions for the algae bloom, including an increase in education, finding more money to help clean up the muck in the river and diluting the river with additional water.

Commissioner Curt Smith told the meeting’s attendees that the fish kill hit him personally.

“I, too, share your sadness and I know everyone in here does,” he said. “I live on the Indian River and it was heart-wrenching to see the flounder and all the crabs and all the other fish taking their last breath and struggling for air on my dock. It was a moving experience and something I don’t want to see again.”

Cox Media Group