“It’s already created a lot of problems for local people for tourism, for the economy, for corals, for coral reefs, for seagrass, turtles, and for people,” shared Dr. Chuanmin Hu.  

Dr. Hu is a Professor of Oceanography at the University of South Florida. He claims that this algal belt is not brand-new.

The belt originated in the Sargasso Sea of the Atlantic Ocean. Experts first noticed an increase in seaweed blobs washing up on Florida shores in 2011.

The belt saw 13 million metric tons in March, the most ever recorded for that month and breaking the previous record.

Despite this astounding figure, Dr. Hu noted that the belt covers only 0.1% of the ocean’s surface.

“This amount is not in one location. It’s spread all over the Tropical Atlantic. It’s a huge area. It’s 5 million kilometers in that area,” Dr. Hu said.  

In Florida, summer is the time when more algae accumulates. But numerous places in Florida have already noticed algae accumulations on their shores.

Last year, Broward County collected about 282 yards of seaweed. Compared to the same period this year, they have collected 920 yards so far.

In Miami-Dade, they have gathered about 5,000 cubic yards since March.

Since the beginning of April, the seaweed has been visible in parts of the Panhandle as well, raising the question of whether or not we can stop it from washing ashore.  

“It’s possible. It’s just a factor of benefit versus cost,” Dr. Hu said.  

The cost to clear the seaweed was around $3.9 million paid by Miami-Dade County.  

Broward County composts its waste, resulting in an annual cost savings of nearly $350,000. However, local government and tourism still have to bear the financial burden.

For that reason, scientists like Dr. Hu are trying to figure out why more of it is flourishing.

“Seaweed is a plant, as with other plants, it requires light, nutrients, and the right temperature to grow. In the Tropical Atlantic Ocean, all these conditions are there. So why do we see an increasing trend in recent years? There are a lot of factors. No one can really pinpoint one factor, you know that is the killer.”  

Although it is difficult to anticipate what might happen next, researchers know that the pattern of increasing algae in Florida is likely to continue.

“This represents a new normal compared to ten years ago, and people need to be prepared.”

Recent Updates on Sargassum Seaweed in Florida from our FB group community:

Sargassum Seaweed Update Florida is a FB group with locals from Florida or people visiting and posting updates on situations in different coastal areas of the state.

May 4

May 1

April 30

April 29

April 13 and older

Possible alternative uses of seaweed

Sargassum seaweed has several potential uses, including:

1. Fertilizer: Sargassum seaweed is rich in nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are essential for plant growth. It can be used as a natural fertilizer for crops and gardens.
2. Animal feed: Sargassum seaweed can be dried and processed into a nutritious animal feed for livestock and fish.
3. Bioplastics: Researchers are exploring the use of sargassum seaweed as a source of biodegradable plastics, which could replace traditional petroleum-based plastics.
4. Biofuel: Sargassum seaweed can be converted into biofuel, which can be used to power vehicles and machinery.
5. Cosmetics: Sargassum seaweed is used in some cosmetics and skincare products due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
6. Medicine: Sargassum seaweed has been used in traditional medicine to treat a range of ailments, including respiratory problems, inflammation, and skin conditions.
7. Soil erosion control: Sargassum seaweed can be used to prevent soil erosion and promote plant growth in coastal areas.

The post Seaweed Sargassum Starts Invading Florida’s Beaches In Record Numbers appeared first on Traveling Lifestyle.

This rotting, stinking algae which is invading the shoreline or in the water is a naturally occurring brown seaweed. Composed of gas-filled structures which keep the brown seaweed buoyant, strong currents and the wind is what is bringing the massive blob to the shores.

It is a genus of brown macroalgae in the order Fucales, a planktonic (free-floating) species.

The 13-million-ton mass is a good thing when it is out offshore, but impactful to humans when it gets on beaches. In the ocean, it provides a habitat for hundreds of species of fish and even endangered sea turtles. 

Although it is not advised to swim next to it as it can cause the skin to turn red and into an itchy rash, the texture is like a loofah sponge when swimming next to it. Along with the potential for rashes, stinging organisms such as jellyfish can be present among sargassum.

The worst though might be the smell. When sargassum decomposes, the hydrogen sulfide gas produced makes it smell like rotten eggs. This can be extremely harmful to those with pre-existing conditions. 

The reason the blob is so big this year is that current conditions are ideal for it to grow. The nutrients from the ocean depths are acting like fertilizer for plants, a great environment for growth. 

While there are no records of major blooms prior to 2011, there have been record-setting blooms in 2018 and 2022, but 2023 is setting new records earlier in the season. 

While where sargassum accumulates is highly variable, it will almost inevitably wash shore along all Caribbean islands, the Gulf of Mexico, and Southeast Florida. 

The post What Is Sargassum And Why It Is Coming To Florida – All To Know appeared first on Traveling Lifestyle.

Two such links for sargassum-related resources are The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sargassum Reports and Florida Department of Health Fact Sheet.

Along with providing real-time sargassum information to travelers, the tourism body is working with other state agencies to suggest inland activities for impacted destinations. 

While the seaweed helps with shoreline stability, the stinky rotten egg-smelling seaweed can be dangerous for those with respiratory issues who have prolonged exposure. 

The yearly invasion is expected, but this year The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt set new records. The belt has been measured at 13 million metric tons, which is about .1% of the ocean’s surface.

As the bloom is being predicted for June and July. along with Florida, the Caribbean and Mexico will experience major beaching events throughout the summer. 

Currently measuring over 5,000 miles wide, twice the width of the United States, beachgoers have experienced the whiff of rotten eggs since Easter Sunday. 

The seaweed is home for many marine species and the algae helps with erosion and provides beach plants with nutrients according to an article in 2018 from the University of Florida Museum. It also provides refuge for fish, crabs, shrimp and other smaller organisms. 

Managing the influx of seaweed is a two-pronged approach from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The former leads coastal water cleanup while the latter manages sargassum that lands on beaches.

The sargassum invasion has been occurring yearly since 2011, requiring costly cleanups and detouring tourists. Growing in the clear waters of the Sargasso Sea, strong currents bring the mass westward, impacting Florida, the Caribbean and Mexico.

The post Visit Florida Provides Vital Support To Businesses Affected By Sargassum Invasion appeared first on Traveling Lifestyle.

Weather.com scientists say large-scale beaching events are “inevitable” this summer in Florida, the Caribbean and Mexico as the stinky kelp grows larger. Officials predict the giant bloom will peak between June and July.

“Given the complexity of its motion, growth, and decay, it is not possible to forecast the timing of beaching,” a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spokesperson said. “However, given the size and number of the current Sargassum patches, there is a strong chance that Sargassum carried by the Florida Current may reach the Florida coast despite wind and wave conditions.”

Update from Delray Beach, FL

The Quintana Roo Sargassum Monitoring Network responded to the USF investigation, stating that the heaviest landfall this summer was expected to weigh 650,000 tons and have an impact on the beaches in Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos, Cancun, Mahahual, and Xcalak.

Update from Puerto Morelos, Mexico

Esteban Amaro, the network’s director, told Reportur.com that he thinks only 5% will reach Mexican beaches, while the other 90% will “continue on its way to the Sargasso Sea”.

As sargassum seaweed rots, it begins to release hydrogen sulfide, which can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat as well as smell like rotten eggs. It is strongly recommended that visitors do not touch or swim near the seaweed.

The installation of 9,050 meters (about 29,691 feet) of anti-sargassum barriers, including 1,850 meters in Othon P. Blanco (Chetumal and Mahahual), 2,400 meters in Puerto Morelos, 2,500 meters in Solidaridad (Playa del Carmen and Puerto Aventuras), and 2,300 meters in Tulum, was announced by the Mexican Secretary of the Navy in March.

The post Florida, Mexico, And Caribbean Expecting Record-Breaking Sargassum Seaweed Arrival This Season appeared first on Traveling Lifestyle.

The authorities have been cleaning the beaches ever since they were alerted to the situation but the peak of seaweed season is just about to come.

Is the sargassum seaweed dangerous?

Sargassum resembles a brown, leafy seaweed most of the time. It often floats on the surface of the ocean. It originated in the Sargasso Sea, a large region of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Sargassum Information Hub claims the algae “provides food and shelter for fish, mammals, seabirds, crabs and more.”

In typical circumstances, it can promote health of the ecosystem. Dolphins and turtles, on the other hand, can suffocate if they are unable to break through the water’s surface when it becomes too thick. Without sunlight, plants on the ocean floor can also perish.

Humans are also at risk from sargassum. It gives off rotten-egg-smelling ammonia and hydrogen sulfide gas. Inhaling this gas can cause problems with the skin, brain, and lungs. It can also cause signs such as nausea, difficulty breathing, and skin irritation. High exposure to sargassum can sometimes even be fatal.

In Guadeloupe and Martinique, there were 11,000 probable cases of sargassum poisoning in 2018. Patients reported having headaches, skin rashes, vertigo, and shortness of breath.

Sargassum gas exposure is not treatable in any way. Symptoms are often minor and improve with time. It is recommended to seek medical attention if symptoms get worse. It is advisable to stay away from seaweed altogether. Walking on the beach is discouraged, especially if the air smells like rotten eggs.

The tourism sector has also been affected by the sargassum bloom in Florida. According to Dr. Gustavo Jorge Gonie, an oceanographer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, travelers are strongly advised to check for the presence of sargassum on their chosen beach before visiting. He also shared:

“We’re trying to work on these early warning systems — high resolution in coastal areas, which takes higher-resolution satellite imagery to do a better job showing what’s actually coming into a beach within the next 24 or 48 hours.”

What are the alternative uses of Sargassum seaweed?

Sargassum has various alternative uses beyond its traditional use as a fertilizer. Some of these alternative uses include:

1. Animal feed: Sargassum seaweed can be used as a feed supplement for livestock and poultry due to its high nutritional content.
2. Bioplastics: Sargassum seaweed can be used to produce biodegradable plastics as an alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics.
3. Biofuels: Sargassum seaweed can be used to produce biofuels such as ethanol and butanol.
4. Cosmetics: Sargassum seaweed is used in some cosmetic products, such as facial masks, due to its skin-nourishing properties.
5. Pharmaceuticals: Sargassum seaweed contains compounds that have potential medicinal properties and can be used to produce drugs for various illnesses.
6. Soil erosion control: Sargassum seaweed can be used to prevent soil erosion in coastal areas.
7. Water purification: Sargassum seaweed can be used to remove heavy metals and other pollutants from water.

The post Is The Sargassum Seaweed Covering Florida’s Beaches Dangerous For Humans? appeared first on Traveling Lifestyle.

Related: Sargassum Seaweed In Florida: 2023′ Latest Updates

Unlike normal ocean seaweed, this seaweed has both a pungent smell and releases harmful chemicals when it decomposes. Along with a nasty rotten-egg stench, prolonged exposure can be dangerous for those with respiratory issues. 

This March saw record numbers for the whole sargassum belt, measuring at 13 million metric tons, which is about .1% of the ocean’s surface. And according to Professor Chuanmin Hu, who teaches oceanography at the University of South Florida College of Marine Science, more seaweed floating in the eastern Atlantic right is going to come to Florida.

Professor Hu states that even more sargassum seaweed should be on the Florida shores as typically sargassum seaweed gathers by the end of May or early June on the Florida coasts. 

He states that a combination of warmer oceans as well as nutrients from the ocean bottom coming to the surface are some of the reasons the sargassum blob is growing to be so large. 

Miami-Dade County has already collected close to 5,000 cubic yards while Broward County so far has collected 920. This is close to 650 yards more than they collected compared to the same time this year.

As sargassum begins to overwhelm the beaches, counties are racing to come up with strategies to clean up both for the safety of humans and for animals. From turtle nesting and other items, there is a massive environmental aspect to this invasive seaweed. 

The massive belt of seaweed is impacting the Yucatán Peninsula and the eastern Caribbean as well, with more to come over the next several weeks and months. 

The post Central Florida Battles Influx Of Sargassum Seaweed appeared first on Traveling Lifestyle.

Fishing and swimming are made more difficult by the seaweed that washes up with each breaking wave.

Miles of algae are expected to wash up on South Florida beaches this summer.

It began to become a reality after a video showed significant quantities of foul-smelling kelp floating offshore and near Marathon’s Cocoplum Beach.

Check out the full video on foxweather.com

Because of its proximity to the Gulf Stream, sargassum tends to be thicker in the nearshore currents of the Florida Keys.

Sporadic onshore currents often bring stains to the shore, which can make for some unpleasant beach days as people have to walk over seaweed and occasionally notice an odor that smells like rotten eggs.

Although seaweed is not dangerous to humans, it can nevertheless have an impact, according to the Florida Department of Health. Small animals that live in the sargassum can cause skin rashes and blisters.

The algae can also contain heavy metals such as arsenic and cadmium, so health experts warn against eating it.

Brown algae are considered beneficial to many marine animals. Scientists believe the deposits provide food and shelter for fish, crabs, shrimp and other smaller invertebrates.

Some beachgoers do not seem to care about the seaweed, while others do not want to get near it.

Regardless of how anyone feels about it, the issue needs to be resolved this year.

The Sargassum bloom is so large that it can be seen from space from beaches in Haulover, Hollywood, and Ft. Lauderdale.

According to Florida Atlantic University professor Dr. Brian LaPointe, the seaweed bloom is 13 million tons, in size and twice the size of the United States.

“It doubled in size in January, from December,” he said.

According to scientists, the cause of the algae is unclear. Although, they have been studying it since 2011.

The algae are not expected to deter many beachgoers, and it is still likely that the beaches will be crowded.

The post Multiple Videos Show First Arrival Of Seaweed Blob On Florida’s Beaches appeared first on Traveling Lifestyle.

A dedicated group of beach workers maintains the cleanliness and sargassum-free conditions of the beaches on Isla Mujeres. These employees patrol the beaches every day, cleaning them of emerging seaweed. Due to the small size of the island, beach workers can focus their efforts on fewer beaches.

​Atenea Gómez Ricalde, the mayor of Isla Mujeres, advocates for the island’s beaches to be clean and free of sargassum. As stated in the new Agreement for the Welfare and Development of Quintana Roo, she will collaborate with Mara Lezama Espinosa, governor of the state’, for this purpose.

Although the typical sargassum season ended in November and does not normally begin again until April or May, it seems to be appearing much earlier than usual lately. For this reason, Antonio de Jesus Delgado González, the head of the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone (Zofemat) of Isla Mujeres, has promised to intensify cleanup efforts on the beaches most affected by Sargassum.

Generally speaking, you should be able to visit any of the beaches on the island. Playa Centro and Playa Norte are two of the many immaculate beaches on Isla Mujeres that are cleaned by Zofemat from 5 to 11 a.m., as they are among the busiest beaches. The other beaches are cleaned according to a predetermined weekly schedule.

On Punta Sam, in the continental zone, most of the cleaning is done, while Isla Blanca is cleaned much more slowly due to its remote location and the consequent lower number of visitors.

As sargassum spreads throughout the Mexican Caribbean, efforts to combat it must become more effective and efficient being strengthened with a variety of tools and equipment. About 400 tons of sargassum have been collected since January. 60 sites have been opened so far this year, with another 40 to follow in April.

The post This Is The Best Destination In Mexican Caribbean To Avoid Sargassum Right Now appeared first on Traveling Lifestyle.