Beach lovers in Florida are facing difficulty in enjoying their time at the ocean due to the massive buildup of sargassum seaweed washing ashore. The brown seaweed is piling up on the coastline, driving tourists away due to its rotten egg-like odor.
Scientists have been monitoring the drifting seaweed on satellite. They had warned the local authorities about the incoming plankton last month. However, this is just the beginning of the seaweed season, and more of the smelly plant can wash ashore towards the end of May and throughout June.
Videos showing seaweed-filled beaches have gone viral on Twitter. The rotting plant is causing trouble for both locals and tourists. The administration is currently working to clean the beaches by using heavy machinery to clear the coastline of the smelly brown algae.
Stinky seaweed blob becomes a constant struggle on Playa del Carmen beaches. #sargassum pic.twitter.com/kuzgZ2dTdL
— ChrisMorrow @Comic_con Curator (@morrowchris) April 14, 2023
Is sargassum seaweed dangerous to humans
Sargassum is a naturally occurring seaweed that floats across the ocean in large masses. The plant grows throughout tropical areas in the world and offers a safe haven to small marine life. Small fishes and organisms live in the mass of the floating islands. It even guides sea turtle hatchlings to reach the seasides.
Reporting live from Higgs Beach in #keywest. The sargassum situation is not great. Getting worse by the day. pic.twitter.com/EXtT4zojmY
— Lori Russo (@lorirusso) April 14, 2023
However, once the seaweed hits the beach, it starts decomposing, and emits sulfide gases in the air, that smell like rotten eggs. Additionally, a high quantity of algae can adversely affect marine life near the coastline.
While sargassum isn’t fatally dangerous to humans, small creatures living within its mass can cause rashes and blisters upon touching. It can also contain a high amount of arsenic and cause gut issues if ingested.
The quantity of seaweed growth is increasing every year
While scientists are unsure about the reason behind the increase in sargassum, they believe it may be caused by agricultural water running into the sea. Agricultural waste is high in nitrogen and other fertilizers that can exacerbate seaweed growth. Additionally, rising global temperatures can also contribute to the proliferation of seaweed.
Javier Pizana-Alonso, CORAL’s Program Manager in Cozumel explained:
“The seaweed grows quickly, under these perfect conditions, blooms can double in size in about 18 days. It can become an issue, depending on how long the blooms drift in the ocean.”
Oceanography professor Dr. Chuanmin Hu expects the arrival of more seaweed in the months of May and June when summer is at its height. He said:
“When we enter the summer months, by end of May or early June, I’d expect more sargassum along the ocean side of the Florida Keys and the east coast of Florida.”
You can also share any questions you have about sargassum. Until then, stay with us here at Spiel Times for more content.
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