What's that smell?

While cleaning up the beach today in Bahia Honda State Park you certainly noticed the sulfer smell. You might have figured out that smell is coming from the Sargassum lining the beach.

Sargassum is a type of brown marine algae that is washing ashore along the Florida coast and the Caribbean. Sargassum floats on the surface in little islands but can then collect along the beaches. These floating mats can stretch for miles in the open ocean. Sargassum is able to float due to the oxygen filled berry-like structure called pneumatocysts. Click here to learn more about sargassum and where it is coming from.

Sargassum provides important habitat to a range of species such as sea turtle hatchlings, birds, crabs, shrimp, as well as juvenile and adult fish. Sargassum can also help to prevent beach erosion.

However, despite the benefits it can also be harmful. Large build ups of sargassum can also be dangerous to marine ecosystems. As the algae decomposes it consumes lots of the oxygen in the water creating dead zones. Within these dead zones the lack of oxygen causes much of the sea life to die or relocate. Sargassum also can collect trash and microplastics that can harm marine life utilizing this algae. 

Since May of this year, sargassum has been piling up along many coastlines. This recent explosion of the species is thought to be occurring due to climate change, nutrient pollution from fertilizers, and ocean currents. 

As the sargassum sits on the beach and begin breaking down hydrogen sulphide is produced causing the nasty rotten smell. Many beach goers dislike this algae: from the smell to the scratchy feeling. Some countries are actually experiencing economic problems due to tourists not wanting to come to algae covered beaches. Some beach authorities have chosen to remove this algae for the convenience of the beach while other places, such as Bahia Honda, have chosen to let this natural part of the ecosystem occur. Check out this website to learn about the current state of sargassum at most of the affected beaches.

So what do you think…should it be left on the beaches?