Shark deaths leave experts puzzled

PANAMA CITY, Florida (CNN) -- Florida and federal biologists are puzzled by the deaths of more than 100 sharks which have been washing up in a cove in Panama City, Florida.

	MESSAGE BOARD
Animal world

The sharks are two common coastal species -- the blacktip and the Atlantic sharpnosed shark.

First reports of the die-off surfaced Monday. Enric Cortes, a research fishery biologist with the National Marine Fisheries Service in Panama City examined about 50 of the animals.

Cortes said the animals showed no signs of having been killed by fishermen, and that the deaths may have been caused by disease. He also said that mass mortality in sharks is extremely rare.

Another possible culprit is water quality, but biologists said that seemed unlikely because no other animals appeared affected.

Red tide, an algae bloom that can cause fish kills, has been reported in the area in recent weeks. Tests are being done on tissue from the dead sharks to determine if red tide was involved in the deaths.

If those tests are negative, Cortes said the deaths are likely to remain a mystery.

Conservationists fight to corral 'shark rodeos'
September 6, 2000
Conservationists fight to corral 'shark rodeos'
April 28, 2000
Congress considers bill to help save sharks
October 22, 1999
Shark defenders decry practice of 'finning'
August 31, 1999

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Tyndall AFB

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.