Parasites Infect Fish, Shellfish Across Indian River Lagoon

A sweeping new scientific analysis of the Indian River Lagoon — the estuary stretching along the coastlines of Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin counties — has found parasitic infections broadly distributed among the fish and crustaceans that inhabit the lagoon's intertidal zones, according to a peer-reviewed study published this year in the journal Estuaries and Coasts.

The meta-analysis examined parasite prevalence across multiple species and habitat types within the lagoon system, according to Moore C. et al., Estuaries and Coasts, 2025. The findings suggest that the diversity and distribution of parasites in the lagoon reflect broader stressors on the ecosystem, including water quality degradation and habitat disruption — conditions that Treasure Coast residents and environmental advocates have long associated with recurring algae blooms and nutrient pollution entering the lagoon from area waterways.

No direct quote from the lead author was available at publication time. The TC Sentinel has reached out to the research team for comment.

For Treasure Coast families who fish recreationally or harvest shellfish from lagoon waters, the study underscores the importance of following Florida Department of Health advisories on safe handling and thorough cooking of seafood. Parasitic infections in fish and crustaceans do not always pose a direct threat to human health, but some organisms can cause illness if seafood is consumed raw or undercooked.

The lagoon, one of the most biodiverse estuaries in North America, has faced mounting ecological pressure in recent decades from blue-green algae events, seagrass loss, and stormwater runoff across Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties. Researchers have increasingly used parasite load as a biological indicator of overall ecosystem health — a higher burden of certain parasites can signal a weakened or imbalanced food web.

The St. Lucie County Health Department and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had not issued updated advisories related to this research as of publication. Residents with questions about lagoon water quality or seafood safety can contact the St. Lucie County Health Department directly.

This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.