If you\u2019ve visited the beach recently, you may have noticed massive piles of brown seaweed blanketing the shoreline. That seaweed is called sargassum \u2014 and it\u2019s washing up in droves along Florida\u2019s east coast.<\/p>\n
According to the\u00a0National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), sargassum is technically an algae. Free-floating sargassum has long been common off the U.S. eastern seaboard, where it plays a critical role in ocean ecosystems \u2014 providing food, shelter, nursery areas and breeding grounds for fish, sea turtles and birds.<\/p>\n
But in recent years, the situation has changed dramatically. NOAA reports that since 2011, sargassum has been appearing in significantly greater abundance across the tropics, stretching from Africa to the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of America.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The problem isn\u2019t just visual. When sargassum decomposes on the beach, it releases hydrogen sulfide gas \u2014 a foul-smelling compound that reeks of rotten eggs. The decomposing seaweed also attracts flies and other insects, creating an unpleasant experience for beachgoers.<\/p>\n
NOAA sargassum tool provides daily update of risk of seaweed washing up on beaches (NOAA)<\/p>\n