Once the sargassum blob hits the beach, the seaweed can be removed. Is it climate change? Is there data that shows how coastal intrusion of sargassum has changed over the past decades? "We maintain a vigorous beach raking schedule in Panama City Beach during our peak seasons," Rudd wrote in an email. Re-publication without written permission is against the law. As the days get warmer, the presence of sargassum is expected to increase. The sargassum seaweed that is washing up in mass amounts on South Florida beaches is carried from off the coast of Brazil by oceanic currents, finally arriving via the Gulf Stream to be blown ashore by the prevailing onshore winds. This green algae (Cladaphora) blooms every year sometimes as early as April, and will come and go throughout the summer. PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - As tourists continue to flock to the Emerald Coast, one unwelcome guest is also appearing on the beaches. We go there every year. You can find the seeds (termed sea beans) within the sargassum seaweed that washes up on the beach as a drift linethese seeds came from trees in the Amazon River basin. By Chris . After exiting the Sargasso Sea, theSargassumdrifted southward in the Canary Current and entered the tropics. Just recently we had some unexpected rain which did increase the presence of sargassum on the beach. Activity in our dedicated FB reporting group Sargassum Seaweed Updates Florida has been increasing with daily updates of seaweed arrivals. Other sources of nutrients include Saharan dust coming from Africa. Brian Lapointe, a researcher at Florida Atlantic Universitys Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, told CNN he believes the activity will peak in July. Florida sargassum seaweed: Where's it going, when will it arrive? He continued by saying that the amount offshore at this time of year is four times what it usually is. Sargassum Seaweed In Florida: 2023' Latest Updates And Photo Reports no matter how much Sargassum we'll land on the east coast beaches, the west coast of Florida is largely spared every year [and] this year is no exception," Dr. Hu says. The seaweed can range from low to high quantities depending on tide, wind, and other factors. Officials in cities along the Mexican Caribbean revealed that distance, speed of travel and currents have resulted in experts forecasting a non-existent flow of sargassum seaweed this summer. Sargassum seaweed on Florida beaches: Latest reports Take a look at this video that shows the crazy amount of sargassum washing up on the Gulf beach in Orange Beach, Alabama in late May 2022. Search City or Zip Code. Escambia, Santa Rosa ready for 5,000-mile-wide sargassum blob moving toward Florida. What do other scientists think is causing this problem? We talked with an oceanography professor to see what could come from the massive seaweed bloom making headlines. Here's a link to a live web cam on Key Biscayne so you can see for yourself. Thu 16 March 2023 10:25, UK A giant seaweed blob, called Sargassum is reportedly headed for Florida, but where is it right now, and how do you track it on the map? Sign up for West End PCB's free newsletter. Red indicates full inundation of seaweed on beaches. As reported in our post Mexico and Mother Nature What you Need to Know 2015, the sargassumoccurrence which has many ecological benefits is not dangerous nor continuous and often unpredictable. The fact there is sargassum on the beach does not mean its part of that gigantic blob. That said, even decaying sargassum is not considered harmful because the gases disperse quickly on breezy beaches. From August 18, 2015: Theinnovative concept to prevent seaweed from reaching beaches using nets has produced positive results. They are studying to see if itcan be composted and used as fertilizer on farms in local villages. The department also suggests using gloves if you have to handle sargassum and closing windows if you live near the beach to avoid breathing issues and bad smells. Best Caribbean Beaches Without Seaweed: Where to Go in 2023 Panama City Beach Seaweed & June Grass - West End PCB Get involved at upcoming cleanup. The level of seaweed we have is very low. Its website reported "substantial sargassum" in both the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico in April and May and projects "continuing impacts throughout most of the region" as the mass reaches its peak growth season of June and July. Bob co-founded FloridaRambler.com with fellow journalist Bonnie Gross 12 years ago. This article is property of FloridaRambler.com, protected by U.S. If travelers continue to have any concerns about their upcoming vacation at a certain hotel outside of the ones we work with/report on, we suggest reaching out to them via social media or e-mail to inquireif they have a beach cleaning program in place and real-time photos they can share. Sargassumdoes not extend as a blanket (or blob) covering the full surface of the ocean in these regions. Sargassum in Florida: Largest seaweed bloom likely ever recorded - WTSP.com Latest NOAA Sargassum inundation assessment The weekly risk assessment was published by NOAA and the University of South Florida on June 27, 2023, and is the latest available. Learn more by reading our Affiliate Disclosure. In recent years, publicity over blue-green algae in central Florida lakes, the St. Johns, St. Lucie, and Caloosahatchee rivers, has led to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission receiving questions from the public concerned about human health risks and whether fish are safe to eat from affected areas. While occasionally smelly, the organic material plays an integral part of the beach ecosystem. AsSargassumaccumulates close to the coastlines, it can smother valuable corals, seagrass beds, and beaches. Get involved at upcoming cleanup . Panama City Beach: sargassum starting to build up in the water. The name June Grass comes from the common appearance in the month of June. Below are our previous updates from our hotels. There are far more distractions in Key West than a beach. For people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions, such as emphysema or asthma, red tide can cause serious illness. 13 Most Dangerous Cities In California Should You Avoid In 2023? The Florida red tide organism, K. brevis, produces brevetoxins that can affect the central nervous system of fish and other vertebrates, causing these animals to die. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The local impact:A 5,000-mile-wide mass of seaweed is headed for Florida. Increased nutrients are being flushed into the ocean that feeds the sargassum seaweed, causing it to bloom (explode in amount). What sort of ideas are scientists working on to address the sargassum blooms? We compiled a roundup of beach webcams so you can see the. However, it is not nearly as high in concentration as other areas of the Panhandle, including Okaloosa County, where officials reported last week the seaweed has washed ashore in much greater quantities than past years. We own a time share there. The Sargasso Sea is the only sea in the world without a land bordering it and, as you might expect, is home to large swathes of floating sargassum seaweed. This years giant bloom of sargassum seaweed, which is estimated to be the largest ever, has started washing up on beaches in Florida and the Caribbean. You can unsubscribe anytime. This New 2-Hour Cable Car Ride Is The First To Enable Travel Between Two Countries, 3 Of Americas Finest Glamping Spots For Summer 2023, This NEW All-Inclusive Resort On The Private Caribbean Island Opens Doors To Tourists, latest photos and videos on Sargassum Seaweed in FL, Latest Sargassum Seaweed Updates from Cancun Area, This Popular U.S. Travel Destination Gets Its First Cannabis-Friendly Hotel, Mexico Regained Its Highest Rating For Airspace Safety From The United States, Is CANCUN SAFE To Visit? "This year we haven't seen anything like we did last year. Even with that study, there is no evidence any human interaction with seaweed has caused any medical issues. Seaweed, algae blooms, and sargassum can wash up on the beaches across the area. Read more. Those Seaweed Blobs Headed for Florida? See How Big They Are. Get your local forecast, weather insights, stunning photos, daily trivia, and a dash of delight. Blue indicates a low level of inundation. Sargassum has always been found on South Florida and Caribbean beaches, but at manageable amounts until 2011. Otherwise our time on the beach was perfect! Seaweed and sargassum washing ashore in Panama City Beach - WJHG document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 West End PCB. Scientists are closely monitoring satellite imagery to identify areas where beaching may occur. Readmore: Local Technology Students Turn Sargasso into Fertilizer. ET Source: Teresa Wood/Coral.Org Along with floods, and earthquakes, sargassum seaweed is yet another natural phenomenon that's making headlines this year, after building up on Atlantic and Caribbean beaches. 1 asset in the destination, so it is important to keep (them) clean and pristine through beach maintenance.". New research suggests the pathogen Vibrio sticks to microplastics that merge into sargassum clusters at sea, and while the bacteria has not been detected in sargassum that washes ashore, beachgoers in some areas are being warned to keep their distance from seaweed clusters. In regards specifically to the seaweed, we have been rating the hotels beaches weekly on a scale from 1-10 (1 being very little, 10 a lot) and on average viewing them at a 3. Date of experience: September 2019. Cyanobacterial blooms are common in Florida lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds, and less common in salt water. Sargassum seaweed 'June grass' shows up in Panama City Beach In fact, sargassum is an important fish habitat that provides food and refuge for fish, birds, crabs, shrimp and many other marine organisms. Plan your vacation with Journey Mexico and we can help you find a hotel that has the means and resources to clean their beaches every day and keep your vacation as sargassum-free as possible. I love Panama City Beach. The weird thing is if you ask a local about this, they say its fake news. During the late winter and early spring months, theSargassummoves northward with the seasonal winds and currents. In that region, there is a range of nutrient sources that are feeding the sargassum and helping it to bloom. They will use a crane system to lift the sargassum from the water and deposit it into another boat, according to Mexico News Daily. Fighting Back Against Excessive Sargassum In The Mexican Caribbean The area that these patches cover has been significantly larger in recent years than prior to 2011. Since 2011, large accumulations ofSargassumhave occurred every year in the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and tropical Atlantic, but the amount can vary from year to year. Sargassum itself cannot harm your health, but sometimes tiny sea creatures that live in Sargassum can cause skin rashes and blisters if you are floating around in it for a while. According to experts, sargassum isn't harmful, unlike red tide and blue-green algae. One hypothesisproposes that during the winter of 20092010, the winds that typically blow to the east, from the Americas to Europe, strengthened and shifted to the south more dramatically and persistently than any other time in the 19002020 record. Learn how your comment data is processed. Sargassum, in normal amounts, provides habitat, food, protection, and breeding grounds for hundreds of diverse marine species, including commercially important species, such as tuna and swordfish, which feed on the smaller marine life present inSargassummats. Video. Discover charming small towns and insider tips to hidden gems. More on "the blob":Big, stinky blob of algae takes aim at Florida beaches. Among the resorts in Cancun and the Riviera Maya that have the SurfRake in their seaweed-cleanup regimen are said to include:Banyan Tree Mayakoba,Fairmont Mayakoba,Rosewood Mayakoba,Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort, Mayan Palace Riviera Maya,Grand Palladium Riviera Resort & Spa, andGrand Riviera Princess. As it washes ashore the seaweed begins to decay, attracting flies and other insects. It was like this a few yrs ago but we wanted to give it one more try. In the open ocean, researchers at Florida Atlantic University have recently discovered the pathogen Vibrio sticking to microplastics that merge into sargassum clusters at sea. (NEXSTAR) A giant seaweed belt twice the width of the United States has its sights set on Florida, where it could wreak havoc as it washes ashore. To find out exactly where sargassum is coming from and how it ends up on Mexicos coast, we spoke to Florida Atlantic Universitys Dr Brian Lapointe, a research professor and leading expert on sargassum. Volunteer cleaners from the Mahahual business community offered up their time to remove the seaweed from the beach and send it to a disposal unit. It also rakes the beach twice a week from March 5 to May 22, three times a week from May 23 to Sept. 10 and two times a week from Sept. 11 to Oct. 14. My mother is concerned too. Since 2011, scientists have been monitoring the growth of a 5,000-mile long train of sargassum, and "just this April, sargassum levels in the Caribbean Sea reached a new record, with the overall . As for the amoeba, there is no evidence that anybody has been affected by "flesh-eating bacteria." "We'll know when it's doing something excessive.". Resource for you: Sargassum Information Hub. Sargassum snapshot: Where is the seaweed and how bad is it in Florida? Generally, beaches with the highest seaweed count include Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Siaan Kaan, and some points between Cancun and Puerto Morelos, however, predicting which beach the sargassum seaweed will impact and in what quantities is nearly impossible as conditions change almost daily and typically without much warning.