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FLORIDA - A record-breaking bloom of sargassum seaweed is headed toward Florida’s coast, with researchers warning it could surpass all previous years in size and impact.
Experts from the University of South Florida’s Optical Oceanography Lab estimate the 2025 bloom will be at least 40% larger than the previous high in 2022, which overwhelmed beaches, marinas, and tourism hot spots across the state.
The floating brown algae has already started accumulating in the Atlantic and Caribbean, forming earlier than usual and reaching historic levels by late April.
Scientists believe a combination of warming sea temperatures, increased nutrient runoff, and changing wind patterns are fueling the explosive growth.
While sargassum is part of a natural marine ecosystem, it becomes a public nuisance when it piles up on shore, releasing foul-smelling hydrogen sulfide gas and creating respiratory irritation for beachgoers.
Cleanup efforts are expensive and ongoing.
Miami-Dade County spent nearly $4 million removing seaweed in 2022 and is expected to face even higher costs this year.
The county is also exploring eco-friendly alternatives to dumping seaweed in landfills.
Four startup companies recently received $100,000 each from the Miami-Dade Innovation Authority to develop solutions like converting seaweed into fertilizer or biofuel.
Meanwhile, scientists at the University of Miami are developing better predictive tools using ocean current simulations to forecast where seaweed will wash ashore.
Until then, beach visitors may face unpleasant conditions as seaweed drifts ashore in waves, coating the sand and clouding the water.
Florida’s coastline is bracing for a long, messy season ahead.