Seaweed is a common sight during the summer. However, many have already noticed an abundance of brown algae (Sargassum) washed up on the shoreline.
Carried to South Florida’s beaches by ocean currents from Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, the presence of seaweed typically spikes during the summer. Although there was a decline during the months, the seaweed is making up for the lost time.
The Department of Earth and Environment’s Dr. Stephen Leatherman, also known as Dr. Beach, told the Sun Sentinel, “There is a flood of Sargasso seaweed hitting the Caribbean islands and now Florida.”
Coastal cities are putting established procedures into play. With the summer rapidly approaching, they are working extra hard in hopes of ridding the beaches of seaweed.
This article first appeared in Sun Sentinel on March 25, 2019.
