When strong currents, high temperatures, and certain directional winds team up, the result will be seaweed-affected Florida beaches. Sargassum is a type of leafy, rootless and buoyant algae that bunch up in islands and floats around the ocean. Then they changed the face of medical advocacy, Red tide is not choking spring break activities on Clearwater Beach, How climate change will impact the kinds of trees that can survive in your Florida yard, In Florida, an invasive snail is helping save an endangered bird, How To Handle A Massive Seaweed Invasion? FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. Large patches of what will become stinky shoreline seaweed, stretching from the west coast of Africa to just off the southern coast of Cuba, has made its way to South Florida and local leaders are getting ready. "We can see it out there in the open ocean and we can track movements offshore with accuracy. The great Atlantic Sargassum belt. Most hotels along the Florida Keys will have a crew of staff or contractors to help keep the beaches as seaweed-free as possible. The answer is that residents and visitors to the Sunshine State should expect sargassum deposits in the Florida Keys and multiple Florida east coast beaches. If convicted, Peterson had faced the possibility of decades in prison, though such a sentence is unlikely for someone who spent 32 unblemished years as a law enforcement officer with no prior criminal record. USA TODAY reports: 2023 could be big year for Sargassum. 255 18 Which Caribbean islands are not affected by brown algae, you may be wondering, if you have heard of problems with sargassum algae in Mexico, Florida, and the Caribbean. We know that Florida Keys, Key West, and other east coast Florida beaches are more at risk than areas and beaches found on Floridas west coast. Reading and traveling have been spiritual experiences for him. Not the dry humor the English are famous for, but the collective name given to the massive brown carpet of seaweed comprised of algae and other marine plants originating in the Sargassum Sea. The Florida Keys and east coast of Florida will get most of the seaweed, but even in those parts of Florida in the next few weeks, next month, the amount will decrease substantially," he said. But, this year is really abnormal, its weird.". St. George Island State Park, Florida, 4. Leatherman has been ranking Americas best beaches since 1991. Unfortunately, the afternoon tide often brings more seaweed onto the beach that isnt cleaned before the following morning. And the Peterson verdict left a bitter taste in the mouths of Parkland victims families and others connected to the high school and the community. Broward County prosecutors charged Peterson, a former Broward Sheriffs Office deputy, with criminal charges for failing to enter the 1200 Building at the school and confront the shooter as he perpetuated the Valentines Day 2018 Massacre that left 17 dead and 17 injured. What should we expect? (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel). The University of South Florida implemented a seaweed monitoring system called Sargassum Watch System (SaWS). Fred Guttenberg, who lost his 14-year-old daughter Jaime in the shooting, noted that she was literally one step away from safety when she was gunned down on the third floor. Beaches experience two tides every day. The reference to the blob is simply describing the appearance of the 5,000-mile sized GASB when viewed via satellite imagery. Current Seaweed Conditions In Miami. May 10, 2023. 108 reviews. Broward County prosecutors charged Peterson, a former Broward Sheriffs Office deputy, with criminal charges for failing to enter the 1200 Building at the school and confront the shooter as he perpetuated the Valentines Day 2018 Massacre that left 17 dead and 17 injured. The giant sargassum blobs piling up on the Florida coast might harbor flesh-eating bacteria. Some sargassum has already reached beaches in Key West, said Chuanmin Hu, a professor of oceanography at the University of South Florida. 2015. Published March 25, 2023 at 8:57 AM EDT Brian Cousin / Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute A super-swath of brown seaweed is drifting toward Southwest Florida's beaches, threatening to pile up feet deep in places and stink like rotten eggs. Whether you are a resident or visitor, if you enjoy going to the beach, you are likely to experience sargassum landings the summer. Beaches that are currently unaffected by sargassum in the Destin area include: Miami Beach and South Beach suffer from seaweed attacks every year, and should you plan a trip to Miami in 2023, the chances of sharing the beach with sargassum are potentially high depending on the time of year and Mother Nature. It stretches over 5,000 miles. The No. Sargassum begins to rot after about 48 hours on land, releasing irritants like hydrogen sulfide, a hazard to anyone with respiratory issues like asthma. The idea behind the tracking of sargassum is to issue forecast and seaweed outlook bulletins in real-time to provide data on the natural recurring phenomenon so that countries, states, and cities can plan accordingly to counteract the probability of seaweed beaching on their shores. Do miss Atlantic Shores. Beach, aka coastal scientist Stephen Leatherman. Defense attorney Mark Eiglarsh looks on at right. This area is referred to as the Greater Sargassum Belt (GASB) or Small Sargasso Sea. It has fairly high concentrations of the toxin," he said. Sargassum is a type of leafy, rootless and buoyant algae that bunch up in islands and floats around the ocean. 02:54 - Source: CNN. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel), Former Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School School Resource Officer Scot Peterson, left, hugs his defense attorney, Mark Eiglarsh, after being found not-guilty on all charges at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, June 29, 2023. Siesta Key Beach is rated as one of the best beaches in the United States. Broward County prosecutors charged Peterson, a former Broward Sheriffs Office deputy, with criminal charges for failing to enter the 1200 Building at the school and confront the shooter as he perpetuated the Valentines Day 2018 Massacre that left 17 dead and 17 injured. 46 helpful votes. Florida Seaweed Problem 2023: Everything You Need to Know Before You Visit! What to do if your flight is canceled or delayed, Gas isnt as pricey as last year, but starting this weekend, youll pay a little more at the pump, Review: Disneyland delivers the Marvel musical you didnt know you wanted or needed, Police: Tourist who defaced Colosseum has been identified, Dear Abby: I prevailed in the dispute but it split our friend group, Dear Abby: I can't even play with cats correctly, Ask Amy: I haven't talked to my brother since this incident at his son's wedding reception, Harriette Cole: She had no right to approach my ex without my consent, Ask Amy: I'm unhappily single, and I'm hurt by what my co-workers say, Harriette Cole: My enemy has moved to my city and I'm afraid we'll run into each other, Ask Amy: He's refusing to hand over the big gift the bride was counting on, Dear Abby: We can't go out with her anymore, and we can't tell her why. Video from 2018 shows a pile of rotting sargassum that hit the beaches of Miami. In the open sea, healthy patches of sargassum can soak up carbon dioxide and serve as a critical habitat for fish, crabs, shrimp, turtles and birds. Patches of floating brown seaweedknown as Sargassumhave stretched from the west coast of Africa to the Gulf of Mexico in what is known as the "Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt."In March 2023, scientists found that the amount of Sargassum floating in the belt was the largest . It's a good year for those elements. An estimated 200 tons of sargassum already began washing up on beaches along the Yucatn Peninsula earlier this month, spurring local authorities to jump into cleanup operations. As sargassum continues to plague many beaches in South Florida, and around the county, Fort Lauderdale crews are out daily, scooping up the smelly seaweed from the beaches and turning it into soil . Tourist filmed defacing Romes Colosseum has been identified, police say, Madonna still bedridden, vomiting uncontrollably after leaving the hospital: report, United Airlines troubles worsen at Denver airport with more than 500 cancellations, 1,000 delays over 5 days, Pornhub blocks access to Virginia users in response to new age verification law, Ex-deputy Scot Peterson found not guilty of all charges in Parkland mass shooting, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 2021, Wang et al. Some of these beaches arent as bad due to the cleanup activities. Despite expecting massive amounts of sargassum seaweed to wash up on Florida beaches, researchers say the situation has not been as bad as initially predicted. Top 10 US beaches for 2023. Beaches that are seaweed-free in the area include the following popular beaches: As reported by WKRG News 5 in March 2023, no sargassum or red tide is currently affecting the beaches of Destin and Fort Walton. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel), Former Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School School Resource Officer Scot Peterson reaches for supporters after being found not-guilty on all charges at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, June 29, 2023. Planning your holiday on the west coast of Florida will result in a relatively sargassum-free holiday if youre lucky. Furthermore, several scientific studies are underway examining the viability of sargassum as a compost additive. Aditya has been books and travel lover since childhood. Most of Miami-Dade County's seaweed budget goes toward removing the sargassum that piles up in four hot spots: beaches in Haulover just north of Haulover Cut; beaches in Bal Harbour just south of Haulover Cut; Miami Beach between 26th Street and 31st Street; and the beaches alongside South Pointe jetty. With all of the attention the blob is getting, it is important to understand just what is being discussed and what we can expect in south Florida over the coming months. If not cleaned up properly, it can shade out corals and sea grass and create near-shore dead zones as it decays. Currently, the beaches in Siesta Key are unaffected by sargassum deposits, and hopefully, the trend will continue as we move into the sargassum season. Oh yes, before I forget, you may encounter sargassum at Dog Beach. Photo by Jennifer Ranicki on Unsplash. Even when the county or city has a cleanup plan for affected beaches, its getting more difficult to keep up with the larger amounts that find their way to the east coast beaches every year. According to information provided by the Dr. Hu of the University of South Florida, the beaches in the Tampa Bay area will likely not experience many sargassum deposits during the seaweed season as the west coast of Florida is largely spared every year [and] this year is no exception. The 8-mile beach is a snorkelers paradise with crystal-clear waters and pillow-soft sand. Peterson, 60, was charged with six counts of child neglect with great harm, one count of child neglect without great harm, three counts of culpable negligence and one count of perjury for allegedly downplaying the number of shots he heard in order to minimize his failure to act. Corrected: March 17, 2023 at 12:00 AM EDT. Learning about new places, cultures, and ways of life and sharing his own experiences and learnings has always been his passion. Peterson thanked the jury of three men and three women for seeing past those characterizations, which shaped the narrative about what he did for years. Seaweed experts predict that the west coast of Florida will be less affected, so theres that piece of helpful information when deciding which side of the mainland to visit. Former Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School School Resource Officer Scot Peterson reacts after he was found not guilty on all charges at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, June 29, 2023. 2:16 2-Minute Listen A large quantity of seaweed, sargassum macroalgae, is floating on the water with vacationing. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel), Tony Montalto, the father of murder victim Gina Montalto makes a phone call in the hallway after the verdict for Scot Peterson. Download it here. All rights reserved. Sargassum gathers and grows in the borderless Sargassum Sea in the Atlantic Ocean. Former Broward Sheriff's Deputy Scot Peterson, the school resource officer accused of failing the children in his care by running from the building instead of confronting the Parkland mass . Sargassum washes up on the beach in Miami Beach, Florida, in May 2023. Remote Sensing of Environment 167, p. 247-258. Sargassum seaweed plagues many beaches around the world and it is increasingly being seen as a resource to improve the soil. The following beaches have a high possibility of sargassum being dumped with a carpet of algae at some stage during the year:Key West BeachesProbability of Sargassum IssuesSmathers BeachHighSouth BeachHighClarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach ParkHighFort Zachary Taylor BeachMedium due to favorable currentsBahia Honda State ParkHighRest BeachHighDog BeachHighCounty BeachHigh. Discovery Company. The City of Fort Lauderdale has been composting their sargassum for 15 years, and uses it as fill for landscaping projects. During the summer, when humidity and water temperature are higher, the decaying seaweed poses a real problem regarding smell and removal, as favorable summer conditions promote fast growth. The latest local, regional and national news events are presented by the Local 10 News Team along with updated sports, weather and traffic. Its a haven for marine life but a hindrance to fishing boats, beachgoers, and hatching turtles when it creeps up close to shore. Learn More. Diamond Head volcano rises in the distance, making for an especially stunning setting, and the beach is good for families with children thanks to a protective offshore coral reef. WASHINGTON, D.C. Although clumps of seaweedhave been washing up onbeachesalong FloridasEast Coast,the situation hasnt been as bad as some researchersinitially predicted. The continuous accumulation of sargassum brough in by daily tides results in large carpets of algae on local beaches. Popular holiday destinations like Playa del Carmen in Mexico, Jamaica in the Caribbean, and various beach destinations in Florida are affected by the stinky brown carpet of algae. Coverage of the red tide outbreak across the region. Although it floats freely in the water, sargassum can wash ashore and remain there, depending upon the local tides and slope of the beach. One area thats currently not affected by seaweed or red tide is Venice, located in Sarasota County, Florida. As predicted by the College of Marine Science (the University of South Florida, some areas in the Florida Keys have already been affected by the rotten egg-smelling (due to releasing hydrogen sulfide) seaweed. Doyle, E., Franks, J. Lapointe, B., Brewton, R., Herren, L., Wang, M. Hu, C., McGillicuddy Jr., D., Lindell, S., Hernandez, F., Morton, P. 2021. Because of Israels reckless, selfish, political actions, (Peterson) had to endure four years of heartache and misery., But jurors made it clear from their verdict the system works, Eiglarsh said. The Gulf Stream is the warm, fast-moving current that hugs Floridas coastline, transporting sargassum onto our beaches. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. But now giant clumps of the 13m-ton morass labeled the Great Atlantic sargassum belt are washing up on Florida's beaches, scientists are warning of a real-life threat from the piles of. My daughters is forever gone.. Unfortunately, sargassum is now being loosely considered a HAB due to now annual inundation and accumulation on local beaches. Sargassum deposits are a natural occurrence worldwide and will reach beaches on Floridas west and northwest coast but tend to be more manageable than the large amounts expected to beach on the east coast. The evidence showed he stood in one safe spot for more than 40 minutes while the victims on the third floor were killed and injured and while other law enforcement officers took action.. The challenge has since extended to the contiguous United States as the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt drifts towards Florida. Friends and family members embraced Peterson and his lawyer, Mark Eiglarsh, who saw the verdict as a vindication not only of Petersons actions that day, but of the defendants decision not to take the stand during his trial. And desperate officials in the Cayman Islands tried a pilot program to pump the seaweed directly out of the water, but swiftly suspended the efforts after realizing how difficult it is to decompose the material, the Associated Press reported. These are the picks for Florida beaches for 2023's Best Beaches in the South: No. The brownish looking seaweed variety called sargassum washes along the shores of South Florida on Wednesday, July 11, 2018, in Sunny Isles Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Brynn Anderson/AP . Use these webcams to see the crowds, surf, waves and sargassum where you're going. Former Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School School Resource Officer Scot Peterson was found not guilty on all charges at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Thursday, June 29, 2023. Another bloom double the width of the United States is now only about 100 miles from Collier County, Florida. While its impossible to speculate about what would have happened, the allegations of neglect came, according to prosecutors, because he didnt even try. "It's almost like sargassum is a barometer for how global nitrogen levels are changing.". Tulum SEAWEED Conditions [2022]: A Detailed Guide!! "During winter months they typically stay rather low. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Before booking a holiday on the Florida coast, the best advice is to ask a local authority about the current seaweed situation in the area you plan to visit. Smyth, A., Laughinghouse, D., Havens, K., Frazer, T. 2022. A big sargassum event can cost the region north $20 million in economic losses. While sargassum is a naturally occurring species, many variables affect its abundance, or amount that it grows. 3. The exact drivers of the growth are still a bit "shrouded in mystery," says Brian Lapointe, a research professor with Florida Atlantic University, who's been studying sargassum for over 40 years. The March 2023 bulletin doesnt bode well for the Caribbean or Florida regions typically affected by sargassum in a season that spans from March to October, peaking in June, July, and August. The chances of encountering large seaweed deposits on Miami beaches between cleanups is a reality, especially from May to July. Travel | Cozumel SEAWEED Problem (2022): Everything You Need To Know! Many hotels will perform a daily cleanup of the beach area in front of the property, so conversing directly with the hotel isnt a bad idea. Bahia Honda Beach is left to the mercy of the sea as the county doesnt clean seaweed deposits from here. A "harmful algal bloom" or HABs are blooms that result in negative impacts to wildlife, people, and economics (Smyth et al. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel), Former Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School School Resource Officer Scot Peterson is embraced by his wife, Lydia Rodriguez, after Peterson was found not guilty on all charges at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, June 29, 2023. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. The softness and pristineness extend to . Cancun SEAWEED Conditions [2022]: A Detailed Guide!! The Broward County beach is a beautiful family-friendly beach featuring the famous 2 -mile Broadwalk, which allows visitors a leisurely beachside stroll while absorbing some vitamin D. Like most Florida beaches, expect white sand, clear water, and perfect weather on most days. Almy said that his team had a renovation project at Sistrunk Boulevard where they used seaweed soil to cover up damaged areas. Posted: April 20, 2023. Shellfish poisoning when ingesting contaminated shellfish. More about that event can be found in a CoastWatch User Story here. The term "algal bloom" can be confusing and mistakenly used interchangeably with other phenomena. Officials of Brevard County are preparing for a worst-case scenario later in the year as a big sargassum season is expected. In the upcoming months, you can expect larger deposits of sargassum to heap up on the beach. When sargassum hits the beachfront, tourists hit the road. University of South . Lighthouse Beach, Buxton, Outer Banks of North Carolina, 6. Travel | Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Related Articles , . Miami-Dade County's spending on seaweed cleanup has risen from $2.8 million during the 2020 sargassum season to $3.9 million during last year's season. Sargassum seaweed is mostly harmless to humans (in fact, aside from the odor exacerbating asthma, per NPR, it has rumored health benefits )! Lapointe agreed, framing it another way: "I remember seeing The Blob as a movie when I was a kid and it scared the you-know-what out of me. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/SG153. Anas focus is on the coastal and marine resources of Miami-Dade County, and she delivers extension programming that is audience-specific and addresses the needs of both the environment and local stakeholders. "Sargassum amount in the Gulf of Mexico is likely to decrease in June, which is good news for many coastal residents of Florida," stated USF's Optical Oceanography Laboratory website. Broward County prosecutors charged Peterson, a former Broward Sheriffs Office deputy, with criminal charges for failing to enter the 1200 Building at the school and confront the shooter as he perpetuated the Valentines Day 2018 Massacre that left 17 dead and 17 injured. In addition to permitted removal activities, coordination groups meet to discuss current events, response efforts, and sharing of best practices related to sargassum. June 23, 2023. Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. We have compiled a list of Caribbean beaches that have historically not been affected by the seasonal bloom of sargassum to help you with your travel plans. In Barbados, local governments employed 1,600 dump trucks daily during the peak season to clean the beaches for tourists, LaPointe told NPR. The following Marco Island beaches should be relatively unscathed from seaweed attacks due to their location in the Gulf of Mexico or Southwest Florida: Home to the infamous Daytona International Speedway, and host of the iconic Daytona 500 NASCAR race, Daytona Beach is one of Floridas crown jewels.
Candice Survivor: Cook Islands,
Articles S