Record seaweed invasion leaves beachgoers gagging as fumes raise health fears

A record amount of sargassum seaweed has been washing ashore across South Florida, frustrating beachgoers and creating a growing challenge for coastal communities.

The brown seaweed has piled up along beaches throughout the region, leaving behind large mounds that many visitors say are affecting their beach experience.

Scientists at the University of South Florida's Optical Oceanography Lab reported that sargassum levels reached a record high for the month of May, according to FOX Weather.

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Researchers estimate that at least 4% of the ocean's surface is currently covered by floating mats and clusters of the seaweed — with levels expected to increase further throughout June.

While the seaweed itself can be unsightly, many residents say the odor it produces is an even bigger problem.

As sargassum decomposes, it releases hydrogen sulfide gas, creating a smell often compared to rotten eggs, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Health officials say the gas can irritate the eyes, nose and throat and may be especially troublesome for people with asthma and other respiratory conditions.

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Residents who have discussed the issue online described the smell as one of the most unpleasant aspects of the ongoing seaweed buildup.

"The smell is so noxious where I live from all the decomposing sargassum," one Reddit user wrote. 

"It’s really bad."

Others said the odor has become so recognizable that even photos of the seaweed trigger memories of it.

"I can literally SMELL these photos," another commenter wrote.

Another beachgoer said the seaweed made spending time in the water less enjoyable than usual.

"I was at the beach today, and honestly it was annoying," the commenter wrote. "You can't enjoy the water."

Images shared online showed thick bands of seaweed stretching across portions of the shoreline.

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"Pictures don't really do it justice," one Reddit user wrote. "You had to walk through what felt like a foot of seaweed just to reach the water."

Sargassum is a naturally occurring brown algae found throughout the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of America, FOX Weather noted.

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While it serves as an important habitat for marine species including sea turtles, crabs, shrimp and fish, unusually large blooms have become a recurring issue region-wide.

Most of the sargassum was historically located in the Sargasso Sea in the western North Atlantic — but in 2011, the geographic range expanded, creating the "Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt," according to the National Ocean Service. 

"A newly established population, driven by shifting wind patterns, is now thriving in the open ocean," the service says.