The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt Problem

 The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt Problem

Written by Grace Hyunjoo Lee

What is Sargassum? Sargassum is a species of leafy brown seaweed originating from the Atlantic Ocean and Southeast coast of the U.S. It supplies habitats and breeding grounds for various species of marine life. 

As summer is arriving, the bloom season of Sargassum is quickly approaching, but maybe a little too quickly this time. Beaches are already receiving an overabundance of this algae, the highest influx this early in the year; an 8,000 km long seaweed belt is drifting into Florida and Mexico.  Although it is vital for marine life to thrive, this year’s bloom is causing an array of issues. 

Through modern agriculture techniques, increased quantities of nutrients are sent downstream into the ocean. Warming waters and changes in atmospheric patterns can also change this seaweed's growth.

Excessive amounts of this substance are causing long brown carpets to be left on the sand and produce the smell of rotten eggs, repelling tourists as well as harming marine life. 

When the huge mats of Sargassum collect at the coast, marine animals can become trapped in or under it and cause breathing problems. It also prevents sunlight from reaching underwater, which is necessary for many plants and grasses. These grasses serve as a vital source of nutrients for many other organisms and Florida’s endangered manatees. 

It is not only causing a disturbance on the beaches but also giving rise to further toxic effects.

When it is washed up on the beaches, it is exposed to the hot sun, causing rapid decay and releasing Hydrogen Sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is a highly toxic gas that can be dangerous to inhale at high levels. 

When the Sargassum dies following decay, it sinks to the ocean floor and smothers coral 

Moreover, the decomposition of algae removes oxygen from the waste and exacerbates the already existing issue, resulting in mass fish deaths.

Unfortunately, environmental laws restrict the removal of Sargassum from the ocean, and the installation of certain barriers or mechanisms can rely on either since they take longer to get approved. There are many opposing judgments about this occurrence; although Sargassum poses a threat to the local wildlife near the coasts, it stores carbon in the open ocean, which controls the level of carbon in the atmosphere. 

Sources:

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/sargassum-seaweed-blob-explained-florida-scn/index.html

Images:

(1): https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/64894471

(2): https://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/2023/03/14/seaweed-sargassum-beaches-florida-bloom-record/