| RIPTIDE | ▼ VIRGINIA KEY FISH EYED O RARE SIGHTING OF TWO ENDANGERED SMALLTOOTH SAWFISH IN BISCAYNE BAY. BY ALEX DELUCA n Saturday April 9, Allyson DeMerlis and her roommate were hanging out by the dock at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (UM RSMAS) on Virginia Key when a large fish swam into the clear, shallow water nearby. And then another passed by. These weren’t creatures DeMerlis had ever seen before in Biscayne Bay — or any- where, for that matter. They were, to her sur- prise, a pair of critically endangered smalltooth sawfish. She quickly snapped photos of the prehistoric-looking fish — one of them appears to be showing off its chomp- ers — and shared one on Twitter. As of Mon- day evening, the image had garnered close to 12,000 likes and dozens of responses from ex- cited researchers and Miami residents. “It was a really rare occurrence, so yeah, I freaked out.” DeMerlis, a UM RSMAS gradu- ate student, tells New Times. Aside from being objectively cool, scien- tists say the encounter sparks hope for the smalltooth sawfish and the habitat they were spotted in, given the pollution crisis affecting Biscayne Bay and the rarity of the species. Since the 1900s, U.S. populations of small- tooth sawfish — named for their bladelike snout, which is lined with sharp teeth — have decreased by an estimated 95 percent, thanks to a combination of overfishing, being caught in fishing gear, and habitat loss. In 2003, the smalltooth sawfish became the first marine fish to receive federal protections under the GET MORE NEWS & COMMENTARY AT MIAMINEWTIMES.COM/NEWS ▼ PARKLAND EXCUSES, EXCUSES T THREE OUTLANDISH REASONS TO GET OUT OF JURY DUTY FOR PARKLAND SHOOTER SENTENCING. BY JOSHUA CEBALLOS his month marked the start of jury selection in the sentencing phase of the trial of 23-year-old Nikolas Cruz, who killed 17 people and wounded 17 others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Valentine’s Day 2018. Last year, Cruz pleaded guilty to 17 counts of first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted murder in the mass shooting. Perhaps not surprisingly, given the notoriety of the crime and the complexity and stakes of a death-penalty trial, and the stakes of the pro- ceedings, the selection phase of the trial is ex- pected to take several months. But even putting aside crucial issues such as Photo courtesy of Allyson DeMerlis Allyson DeMerlis spotted two smalltooth sawfish near Virginia Key on April 9, 2022. Endangered Species Act. Though the species is often compared to sharks, it’s part of the Rajidaemore family, meaning it’s more simi- lar to other flattened fish, like rays and skates. Given the creatures’ documented timidity and Biscayne Bay’s issues with fish kills, sea- grass die-offs, and run-off pollution, Rachel Silverstein, executive director of Miami Wa- terkeeper, a Miami-based nonprofit that ad- vocates for South Florida’s waterways and wildlife, was surprised to hear about the re- cent sawfish sighting in Miami. In a phone call with New Times, Silverstein says the encounter is a testament to the fact that nature can recover if given the opportunity. “It was a sign of hope,” Silverstein says. “It gave everybody a lot of joy knowing that these rare creatures are out there, and they are impartiality, scheduling conflicts, and insufficient fluency in English, Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer has had a particularly difficult time empaneling an impartial group of 12 (plus up to eight alternates) to decide Cruz’s fate; on the first day, one woman began crying in the courtroom and explained that her teenage son was a victim of gun violence. Other impediments to the process have been less gut-wrenching — though hardly mundane. Most people dread jury duty, and the selec- tion process often brings a flood of excuses from citizens determined to talk their way out of ful- filling their civic obligation. But some of the miti- gating circumstances Scherer has had to weigh have been flat-out absurd. Here are three of the most outlandish reasons would-be Parkland jurors provided to avoid jury duty. “I Have My Sugar Daddy That I See Every Day” A woman Local 10 identified as “Mrs. Bristol” told Scherer she could not participate in the trial because she could not spend that much time hopefully reproducing and thriving out in Biscayne Bay.” In response to DeMerlis’ tweet, Neil Hammerschlag, a shark scientist at UM, suggested that the sighting might signal a recovery of the endangered species. “This is awesome!” Hammerschlag tweeted. “Perhaps more signs of recovery of these critically endangered species.” (It’s worth noting that a man roughly 200 miles north in Cocoa Beach caught and later released a 13-foot-long smalltooth sawfish on April 9, too.) A 2020 study authored by Hammerschlag and other scientists with UM RSMAS and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) found a growing number of smalltooth sawfish populations off the coast of Miami — a away from her sugar daddy: “I have to figure out something,” she said. I have my sugar daddy that I see every day.” Bristol later explained to reporters that she SOME OF THE MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES SCHERER HAS HAD TO WEIGH HAVE BEEN FLAT- OUT ABSURD. didn’t want to shirk her civic duty but it would constitute a finan- cial hardship for her if she had to miss quality time with her sugar daddy, who finan- cially supports her to the tune of $8,000 a month. The woman, who told the judge she is also married, said serv- ing on a jury for six months is not feasible for her or her glucose guardian. Pet Duty Sometimes one has to make a judgment call about what’s important in life — say, a high-pro- file court case or a house pet. In the case of one previously unheard-of phenomenon. DeMerlis reported her sighting to Miami Waterkeeper, and Silverstein says they shared the news with NOAA and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The last time Miami Waterkeeper re- ceived reports about smalltooth sawfish was in April 2020, at the beginning of the pan- demic, when a resident filmed two of the creatures swimming near Margaret Pace Park. Silverstein says it was believed to be the first time a pair of the species were filmed to- gether in that part of Biscayne Bay. Silverstein believes the two sawfish recently seen in Miami were most likely a mating pair, given their closeness, but she can’t say for sure. Still, the sight of the two swimming together is enough to leave her feeling optimistic. “Hope for baby sawfish!” she exclaims. would-be Parkland juror, the latter ranked higher. A woman who sought to be excused told Scherer that on top of suffering from hearing loss, she lived alone and had a pet at home. “I am the only one in my house, and I have a pet,” in- voking the jury pool-equivalent of the age-old “my dog ate my homework” excuse. Making the Best Empanadas in Town While some potential jurors tried to leave the jury pool by citing to their responsibilities at home, one local man asked to be excused to ful- fill a higher purpose. The owner of Manny’s Cafe and Bakery in Mar- gate told Scherer that he’s responsible for making the best empanadas in town and being away from his business would constitute a hardship for him and everyone in the community who enjoys his tasty creations. That drew a laugh in the court- room, but the guy had a point valid point — Man- ny’s is a past New Times “Best Bakery” honoree. 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