ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- A perfect storm of conditions likely led to the massive red tide fish kill St. Petersburg and Pinellas County is experiencing.

That's how St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman described it during a news conference Wednesday while also asking for help from the state with the clean up that so far has removed more than 600 tons of dead sea life.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has not said yet if a State of Emergency will be declared on the fish kill.

"Right now, it's all about clean up," Kriseman said. ""It's pretty awful. The odor sticks to you. Plus, there's the emotional toll of seeing dead animals wash up day after day."

Kriseman, Deputy Mayor Kanika Tomalin, and city administrators discussed the situation from Crisp Park, as clean up efforts went on behind them.

Officials said multiple city services are lagging behind as efforts continue to clean up fish.

Close to 200 city workers from sanitation, parks and rec, public works, police, fire and engineering are part of the clean up work.

For two weeks, waves of dead fish have washed ashore along downtown St. Petersburg and Coquina Key, as well as Ft. DeSoto, Boca Ciega Bay and near Treasure Island and South Pasadena, plaguing residents with the intolerable stench.

City officials say over 100 miles of coastline have been impacted, with the worst areas being along the east and southeast coast of St. Pete -- Tierra Verde to Gandy Blvd.

If you need to dispose of dead fish, you can drop them off at one of these seven dumpster sites:

• Crisp Park
• Flora Wylie Park
• Lassing Park
• Demen's Landing Park
• Grande View Park
• Bay Vista Park
• Maximo Park
  

Residents also can call (727) 893-7111 to report dead sea life or go to stpete.org/action.

"We've got to try and get to it as best we can, before it gets in the canals," Kriseman said. "But more help is needed if we're going to get these fish out of the water."