'A new normal': Miami faces worsening seaweed problem as piles of algae wash up on beaches
Officials have had to remove thousands of tons of sargassum from Florida’s beaches amid the climate crisis
TL;DR
- Miami-Dade County is removing record amounts of sargassum from its 17 miles of beaches, with 9,000 tons removed in July alone.
- The county spends $3 million annually on sargassum removal, funded by tourist development taxes.
- Factors contributing to increased sargassum blooms include nitrogen and phosphorus runoff, warmer water temperatures, and ocean circulation, with the climate crisis playing a significant role.
- Excessive sargassum can harm coral reefs, seagrass beds, create dead zones, and pose human health risks due to hydrogen sulfide odors.
- While efforts are being made to combat the issue, experts suggest more research into land-based nutrient sources is needed to address the underlying causes of the growing problem.