Florida's Coast Chokes on Record Seaweed Bloom

Florida Braces for Record Seaweed Invasion Florida is preparing for its worst seaweed season yet. Scientists predict a massive influx of sargassum, 40% higher than the record-breaking 2022 levels. This environmental event threatens tourism and will likely cost millions in cleanup. The University of South Florida's Optical Oceanography Lab, the leading authority on tracking sargassum, issued a report on April 30th predicting this unprecedented seaweed bloom. Professor Chuanmin Hu, who heads the lab, stated, “The speculation is this spring, the water temperature is higher than usual in the western Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea at the right time…And when it’s above the norm, the plants would be happier.” The sheer volume of seaweed, already visible on beaches and accumulating around marinas, is causing concern. The economic impact from the 2022 event serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences. While the exact amount of seaweed washing ashore remains uncertain, the early arrival and scale of the bloom signal a challenging season ahead for Florida’s coastal communities. The situation highlights the growing impact of climate change on Florida's environment and economy.

Green Matters

Here's What You Can (and Can Not) Do With With Sargassum Seaweed

South Florida's invasive sargassum seaweed has become a major problem, prompting some to ask if sargassum can be used as fertilizer — or eaten!