Sargassum Bloom
Florida’s beaches are vital to maintaining the health of Florida’s economy and environment. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are currently monitoring a large Sargassum bloom and are communicating regularly via routine coordination calls to plan and share current status updates, forecasts, impacts, and trends related to Sargassum in Florida waters.
Sargassum includes pelagic species of brown seaweed (macroalgae) that originate offshore in the Atlantic Ocean and float on the ocean surface. Large rafts of Sargassum are common to a region known as the Sargasso Sea. 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.
Since 2011, Sargassum has been more abundant in the Central Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Sargassum now occurs each year in this area, with peak abundance observed in spring and summer months. Ocean currents transport Sargassum from the Atlantic, through the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, to southeast Florida and along the Atlantic coast.
As the season winds down, limited and fairly typical impacts have been reported along Florida’s coast, mostly in the Florida Keys and along the southeast and northwest coasts. The most recent satellite imagery indicates minimal Sargassum in the Gulf of Mexico, although accumulations are still visible southeast of the Gulf (i.e., in the Caribbean and Atlantic).
Frequently Asked Questions
General
Sargassum includes pelagic species of brown seaweed that originate offshore in the Atlantic Ocean and float on the ocean surface. Sargassum provides many marine ecosystem benefits, including providing habitat for an array of animals such as crabs, shrimp, sea turtles, and fish. It also serves as a primary nursery area for a variety of economically important fishes such as mahi mahi, jacks and amberjacks.
Florida’s beaches are vital to maintaining the health of Florida’s economy and environment. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are currently monitoring a large Sargassum bloom in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. FWC and DEP are communicating regularly with stakeholders via routine coordination calls to plan and share current status updates, forecasts, impacts, and trends related to Sargassum in Florida waters.
FWC takes the lead in monitoring algal blooms in Florida’s coastal waters, while DEP coordinates with municipalities throughout Florida to identify the best way to manage Sargassum that may come inshore or on beaches, whether that be to integrate it into the beach, haul it for disposal or even compost it.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and University of South Florida (USF) issue an experimental Sargassum Inundation Risk (SIR) product to provide an overview of the potential risk of Sargassum coastal inundation in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico regions. This report integrates satellite imagery for Sargassum detection with models of ocean currents to estimate potential risk based on the percentage of shoreline likely to be inundated with Sargassum.
Sargassum blooms commonly occurred in the Sargasso Sea prior to 2011, with small amounts periodically observed along Florida’s Atlantic coast. Changes in ocean circulation and other factors that are still being examined resulted in the formation of the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt, recurring annually since 2011. This Sargassum event extends across the Central Atlantic Ocean, and patches are transported into the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico in spring and summer, with large quantities coming inshore on Florida’s beaches in recent years.
Once in shallow water or washed on beaches, Sargassum can be important for fertilizing dune plants and harboring crustacean and insect species vital for resident and migratory shorebirds, but in large amounts it can become a nuisance and an eyesore, impacting tourism and impeding the recreational enjoyment of the shoreline by residents.
Because Sargassum is primarily a waste management concern if it impacts beaches in large quantities, DEP coordinates with municipalities throughout Florida to identify the best way to manage Sargassum that may come inshore or on beaches, whether that be to integrate it into the beach, haul it for disposal or even compost it.
For those who would like to contribute with a report of Sargassum sighting, please follow the link on NOAA and USF’s experimental Sargassum Inundation Report. This data is collated as part of NOAA’s CoastWatch program and visualized using the NOAA OceanViewer tool.
Health
When washed ashore, Sargassum seaweed will decompose and cause the production of hydrogen sulfide gas, which can cause an unpleasant smell similar to rotten eggs.
Hydrogen sulfide may irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, but in open areas like beaches, the general public should not experience any adverse health impacts. People with prior respiratory conditions may be more sensitive to hydrogen sulfide and may experience difficulty breathing after inhaling it. In enclosed spaces, gases may accumulate and cause harm.
No, and Sargassum itself does not sting or cause rashes. However, tiny organisms that live in and on Sargassum may irritate the skin.
No. You should not use Sargassum in cooking because it may contain high levels of heavy metals like arsenic and cadmium.
- Avoid touching or swimming near seaweed to avoid stinging by organisms that live in it.
- Use gloves if you must handle seaweed.
- Stay away from the beach if you experience irritation or breathing problems from hydrogen sulfide—at least until symptoms go away.
- Close windows and doors if you live near the beach.
- Avoid or limit your time on the beach if you have asthma or other respiratory problems.
Management
The most common management practices for Sargassum include:
- Beach raking for temporary storage, landfill disposal, composting or relocation to a less populated area of the beach.
- Integration into the beach.
- Allowing Sargassum to naturally decompose at its present location.
DEP and FWC coordinate with municipalities throughout Florida to identify the best way to manage Sargassum that may come inshore or on beaches.
We are committed to working closely with local communities to ensure they are informed, prepared and have the information, authorizations and resources they need for Sargassum management should the need arise.
Yes, up to 100 pounds of Sargassum can be removed from canals or nearshore state waters with a recreational fishing license. However, a commercial saltwater products license is required to remove more than 100 pounds. Removal is prohibited in South Atlantic Federal waters.
Any bycatch of fish or marine life species that are incidentally captured while harvesting Sargassum will be subjected to FWC regulations (e.g., minimum size limits, bag limits, vessel limits, etc.). Sargassum is an important habitat for many species of juvenile fishes and therefore potentially high rates of bycatch could be expected when harvesting Sargassum.
Clean-up activities performed with hand tools, and with no mechanical equipment, sand removal, excavation or impacts to dune vegetation, is an exempt activity that does not require a DEP Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL) permit. Activities that include mechanical equipment, sand removal, excavation or impacts to dune vegetation seaward of the CCCL may require permitting.
Consultation with FWC staff is required for specific recommendations on all cleanups within the sea turtle nesting season (March 1 through October 31 from Brevard through Broward counties and May 1 through October 31 in other Atlantic Coast counties).
For more information:
To evaluate a seaweed removal effort, information is needed on the amount and location of debris, beach conditions, locations and conditions of construction access, type of equipment, times and dates of cleanup activities, and sea turtle nesting activities. Program staff will be happy to help with development of Best Management Practices to expedite authorization and ensure projects avoid potential harm to the beach and dune system and sea turtles.
Consultation with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) staff is required for specific recommendations on all cleanups within the sea turtle nesting season (March 1 through October 31 from Brevard through Broward counties and May 1 through October 31 in other Atlantic Coast counties).
De-watered Sargassum can be accepted at permitted Class I landfills, in accordance with Chapter 62-701, F.A.C and Chapter 403, F.S.)
Facilities composting Sargassum seaweed must obtain a Source-Separated Organics Processing Facility (SOPF) Registration in accordance with Rule 62-709.320(3), F.A.C.