A massive sargassum cloud is greeted by beachgoers in the Caribbean, Florida and along the Gulf of Mexico. The Great Sargassum belt, a 5,000 mile-long region, doubled its size in December and January.
Brown seaweed is the rotting, stench-filled algae that is invading shorelines or the water. The massive blob is brought to shore by strong currents, the wind and gas-filled structures that keep the brown algae buoyant.
It is a brown macroalgae genus in the order Fucales.
It is good for the ocean when the 13-million-ton mass stays offshore. However, it can be harmful to humans if it reaches beaches. It provides habitat to hundreds of fish species and endangered sea turtles in the ocean.
Swimming next to sargassum can cause a rash and skin irritation. However, it has a similar texture to a loofah. Sargassum can cause rashes and stinging organisms like jellyfish.
The smell is the worst. The hydrogen sulfide produced by sargassum when it decomposes makes the smell of rotten egg. It can be very harmful for those who already have pre-existing health conditions.
The blob has grown so much this year because the conditions are perfect for growth. Nutrients from the ocean depths act as fertilizer for plants. This creates a favorable environment for growth.
There are no major blooms recorded before 2011, but there were record-breaking blooms in 2018, 2022 and 2023. However, 2023 has set new records for blooms earlier in the season.
Although the location of sargassum is variable, it is almost certain to wash up on all Caribbean Islands, the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast Florida.
