Fish kills are occurring more frequently than normal this time of year because of Hurricane Irma, Florida wildlife officials say.

  • Florida waterways have seen more fish kills recently
  • Wildlife officials say Hurricane Irma caused the fish kills
  • No one is required to clean up dead fish, FWC says

In Sumter County, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said they've received numerous reports of dead fish in Lake Panasoffkee.

"It's kind of gross and it smells, but it's what happens when nature takes its course," said James Napier, one of the owners of Jimbo's Restaurant Fish Camp and Resort. "With the wind, it's not as bad, (but) when the wind dies down... it's a pretty intense smell of rotting fish," he said.

"Sumter County as well as the rest of the state is experiencing a lot of low dissolved oxygen conditions in our lakes and rivers due to after-effects from Hurricane Irma," said Ryan Hamm, the Northeast Regional Fisheries Administrator for FWC. "What's going on in Lake Panasoffkee is fairly widespread at the moment, post-Hurricane Irma, and it’s a natural process," Hamm said.

As of last Friday, officials said they've gotten 186 reports of fish kills related to Hurricane Irma.

FWC officials say no one is tasked to clean up the dead fish, so the fish will either decompose and sink, or residents can remove them.

To report a fish kill, call the FWC at 1-800-636-0511.