DANIA BEACH, Fla. – Florida’s sizzling summer is bringing more than just sunshine. This week, beaches from Dania to Fort Lauderdale found themselves blanketed in thick mounds of smelly, decomposing seaweed — a now-familiar visitor known as sargassum.
Locals and visitors were greeted by the unmistakable scent of rotten eggs, a result of the seaweed releasing hydrogen sulfide gas as it breaks down under the sweltering July sun. While not dangerous in small amounts, the smell is enough to clear sunbathers from popular spots like Dania Beach.
“It’s part of the new normal during Florida summers,” said one local beachgoer. “Every few months, we cross our fingers that it doesn’t pile up too much.”
The culprit behind this natural mess is a mix of persistent ocean currents and easterly winds, which push the brown algae toward the coast. While the influx isn’t as extreme as in other parts of the Atlantic, it still poses a challenge for beach cleanup crews and tourism-dependent communities.
A Growing Trend, Not a One-Off
Photo Reports from FB GroupSargassum Seaweed Florida: Daily Updates and Photo Reports
This marks at least the third major sargassum wave this year, with similar beach takeovers reported in April and May. And experts warn the season may not be over.
According to the University of South Florida’s Optical Oceanography Lab, the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and tropical Atlantic are still dealing with larger concentrations of sargassum, although there’s hope. Recent bulletins suggest that while deep-ocean blooms may start to decline in late summer, more localized surges could hit coastal areas — especially in places like the Yucatán, the Bahamas, and Florida.
That makes long-term forecasting difficult. “Local wind and current conditions play a major role,” said USF researchers. “Even if overall concentrations drop, pockets can still form and drift ashore unexpectedly.”
More Than Just a Nuisance?
Though sargassum may be smelly and unsightly, it’s not entirely bad news. The seaweed plays a valuable role in marine ecosystems, offering shelter and food for creatures like small fish, shrimp, and crabs. Environmentalists caution against hasty removal, especially in the water, where it serves as a floating nursery.
That said, Florida health officials advise beachgoers to be cautious. While the seaweed itself is mostly harmless, tiny marine organisms that hide within it can cause skin irritation or rashes in some people.
The Road Ahead
As the climate warms and ocean patterns continue to shift, scientists predict sargassum blooms may become more common — and possibly more intense. For now, Florida beachgoers are learning to live with the seaweed, even as they hope for clearer sands ahead.
In the meantime, cleanup crews remain on high alert, and tourism boards urge visitors to check local beach conditions before heading out.
