Memorial Day is right around the corner. Many will be headed to local beaches to enjoy the sun and water. But for those thinking about traveling to Florida, be prepared, as toxic seaweed is heading to beaches around the Sunshine State, and the volume may affect Memorial Day plans.
Large amounts of sargassum have been spotted in the Atlantic Ocean. The seaweed that is so voluminous that it has formed a bloom, is headed directly for Florida and is expected to make landfall just in time for Memorial Day.
As the sargassum washes up on shore, it can live for approximately two days. After that, the seaweed begins to die. As it dies, the smell is akin to that of strong rotten eggs.
With record-high amounts of sargassum anticipated to wash up on Florida's shores in the coming weeks, many coastal communities are waiting to see if the bloom will impact beach visitors. If that proves to be the case, the start of summer could be financially slow for businesses that depend on beach traffic to make a profit.
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Scientists have been monitoring the massive sargassum bloom floating in the Atlantic Ocean since March. While scientists knew the bloom was large, they had no idea how much it would grow.
The largest sargassum bloom in recent history was recorded in 2022. In March, that number had already exceeded 2022 measurements, coming in "40% more" than that time.
In March, the sargassum bloom was recorded at 14.5 million metric tons. By April, that number had more than doubled to 31.5 metric tons.
According to Chuanmin Hu, an oceanography professor at the University of South Florida, the Sunshine State will see far more sargassum this year than in years past.
"Florida, as a whole, will no doubt see a lot more sargassum this summer from the Florida Keys to Jacksonville. The impacts could be felt by late May and should last through the end of August and early September." - Chuanmin Hu
While sargassum is known for its bad odor, more than just smell can cause problems for those who come into contact with it.
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According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, even if sargassum is out in the ocean, it is still a living organism that supports all different types of sea life, making it an important part of the ocean's ecosystem.
"Sargassum provides valuable habitat for many animals including fish, sea turtles, marine birds, crabs and shrimp. It also serves as a primary nursery area for a variety of economically important fishes such as mahi mahi, jacks and amberjacks." - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
However, when the sargassum is washed ashore, it begins to die. When this happens, the decaying process can harm those who want to spend time on the beach.
As the sargassum begins to die, it releases toxins that can irritate the throat, nose, and eyes. Its smell also keeps many away from the beaches.
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With Memorial Day fast approaching, international locations like Mexico and the Caribbean are implementing plans to capture the sargassum in the water and keep it away from the shoreline so that visitors can spend a day in the sand and sun without being bothered by decaying seaweed. Whether Florida will follow in their footsteps to revive the look and smell of their white sandy beaches remains to be seen.
