Good Reason For Avoiding Florida’s Beaches For This Year’s Vacation

It seems like we’re constantly in Florida, doesn’t it? It seems like someone from Florida is in the news for all the wrong reasons just about every time. The bad news this time pertains to beaches in the state of Florida. You do not need to be concerned about tropical storms or shark attacks in order to enjoy a successful beach trip this year. It’s known as the Atlantic sargassum belt, and when it makes its way to our beaches, it’s been known to wreak havoc on the local ecosystems as well as the local tourist industry, and it doesn’t smell very nice.

What the heck is going on here?

It is not the first time that Florida (and other beach tourist locations) have had to deal with sargassum, but according to NPR, Florida is staring at a big issue this year. Other beach tourist destinations have also had to deal with sargassum in the past. Since 2011, researchers have been monitoring the blooms of seaweed, which have caused problems in places like Guadeloupe, the Yucatan Peninsula, and a number of other Caribbean islands.

Cancun took preventative precautions by sending the Mexican Navy out to attempt to clear it away before it impacted their beaches. The previous year, the United States Virgin Islands were forced to declare a state of emergency due to the severity of the situation.

The reasons why the seaweed is harmful

There is a finite amount of time during which seaweed in the North Atlantic Ocean is of use to the marine species that lives there, notwithstanding the importance of the seaweed. After forty-eight hours, sargassum will begin to decompose.

The odor is very repulsive.

You’ll recognize the odor we’re talking about if you’ve ever gone to a Florida beach at the time of year when the Red Tide is there. Your nose will continue to be filled with the stench of rotting eggs even after you have left the beach.

It may be harmful to the turtles.

The brown bloom of floating seaweed will suffocate the exquisite nests where the sea turtles deposit their eggs.

When present in large numbers, it poses a threat to the health of other ecosystems.

If it is allowed to decompose, the seaweed will begin to consume oxygen and cause damage to other ecosystems in the water.

It’s not good for human beings at all.

Even if you are able to ignore the putrid odor, being in close proximity to other people is not in anyone’s best interest. As it decomposes, it gives out hydrogen sulfide, which may irritate your eyes and create headaches in addition to causing difficulties with your respiratory system. According to NPR, those who have persistent respiratory difficulties, such as asthma, should exercise a heightened degree of caution. There is also arsenic in the seaweed, which is something you do not want anywhere near your body. And even if you have no problem with any of that, you should still be aware that jellyfish, sea lice, and other forms of marine life may be hiding in there. It’s not exactly the kind of thing that would make coming to the beach a pleasurable experience, and if you’re going to spend money on a vacation, you want it to be remembered in a positive sense.

Make sure everything is in order before you book it.

Do some research before you schedule your trip to ensure that the beach you choose to visit in Florida isn’t overrun by algae. You may get fortunate and time your vacation there when the beach isn’t being overrun by algae. We are sorry to be the bearers of bad news, but we must inform you that the seaweed problem in Key West has already been significantly exacerbated.

Because there is an area of sargassum that is up to 5,500 miles long and increasing, it is likely that you may run across some sargassum while you are at the beach. If you don’t want to be subjected to the putrid odor of sargassum during your beach vacation in Florida this summer, you may want to consider making other arrangements. If your plans involve any aspect of a beach holiday in Florida.