MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – From balloon releases now banned in the state of Florida, to boaters busted for behaving badly and a big marine mystery with divesting consequences yet to be solved, big environmental stories dominated headlines in 2024.

No. 5: Balloon releases banned in Florida

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it into law, making intentional balloon releases a non-criminal littering offense that could get violators fined up to $150.

The moved was cheered by environmentalists who’ve been lobbying the state for years to ban balloon releases because of the death, destruction and pollution they cause in the environment.

No. 4: Boaters behaving badly

Video went viral worldwide showing a group of teens who were caught dumping two garbage cans full of trash right into the ocean about a mile and half off shore of the Boca Raton inlet after a day of partying at the annual Boca Bash on Lake Boca.

A trail of trash could be seen in their wake, but so could their faces in the video shot by wavy boats. Police quickly identified them, charging 16-year-old Michael Kirby and 15-year-old Charles Ruth with third degree felonies for causing pollution.

No. 3: More boaters behaving badly, this time in Miami

People just leaving their trash after a day of recreating on the spoil islands of Biscayne Bay, creating a huge mess and an environmental disaster. The city launched a Leave No Trace policy, encouraging all those visiting the islands to pack in and out whatever trash they make and then dispose of it properly when they get back to the mainland. To drive the point home, waste bins were removed from the islands and new signage went up. Well, that did not go well.

Boaters left an even bigger mess behind, prompting the city to close down the islands right before the Memorial Day weekend. The islands reopened Labor Day weekend, with park rangers and more marine patrol oversight to make sure everyone takes care of their waste. We’ll see if South Florida boaters learn their lesson.

No. 2: Park change proposals

A proposal to build golf courses, lodging and pickle ball courts across nine state parks created a firestorm of controversy.

It was so hated by Floridians across the political spectrum that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection had to drop the plan altogether. The governor did not push back.

The move is dead for now, but nature lovers fear the issue could come up again and are staying vigilant.

No. 1: Marine mystery un-solved!

Videos went viral on social media of more than 80 different species of fish and rays spinning and acting erratically, mostly in the near shore waters of the lower Keys.

Critically endangered smalltooth sawfish were seen beaching themselves, swimming disoriented and violently thrashing about, dying in the shallows. At least 54 were reported dead by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission from Key West, north to the Saint Lucie River, even as far west as Tampa Bay. Gambiadiscus is a benthic toxic microalgae that lives on seagrasses. It’s always been here but in the winter of 2023 to 2024, it exploded in record numbers.

Typically, we see maybe 30 cells per liter of water. That’s a low amount. And we were seeing 5000 10,000 cells per liter, which is more than anyone ever reported previously.

Though levels of Gambierdiscus have normalized over the summer, scientists fear the now cooler waters, might spark another algal bloom this winter and wildlife officials are bracing for impact.

State wildlife officers say they are ready to respond, should this spark up again. So far this year, there have been anecdotal reports of some species of fish seen spinning, but so far no reports of distressed sawfish.