(Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel), Former Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Resource Officer Scot Peterson reacts as he is found not guilty on all charges at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, June 29, 2023. See latest health advisories, test results. Nature Communications 12: 3060. Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina, 10. With all of the attention the blob is getting, it is important to understand just what is being discussed and what we can expect in south Florida over the coming months. The scary part is that its way earlier than expected. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel), Former Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School School Resource Officer Scot Peterson, center, holding his wife, Lydia Rodriguez, gives a media interview after he was found not-guilty on all charges at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, June 29, 2023. After recent assessments, however, that forecast may not come to pass. "We can see it out there in the open ocean and we can track movements offshore with accuracy. In the upcoming months, you can expect larger deposits of sargassum to heap up on the beach. A Local 10 News crew was at Synder Park Wednesday where Fort Lauderdale crews were seen after composting the seaweed into fresh soil. Cayman Islands SEAWEED Problem [2023]: Everything You Need To Know! A "harmful algal bloom" or HABs are blooms that result in negative impacts to wildlife, people, and economics (Smyth et al. Police officers have not been listed among caregivers, but Peterson was not a first responder summoned to the scene to deal with the unfolding crisis. Lapointe agreed, framing it another way: "I remember seeing The Blob as a movie when I was a kid and it scared the you-know-what out of me. See latest health advisories, test results, Is it safe to swim or fish in Sarasota? They take truckloads of it to a park where the city repurposes it and by the time it decomposes, it has very little smell and becomes fertile soil. For those wondering what their experience will be like on their upcoming vacation, we invite you to read more about the problem and how local authorities, hotels, and students are handling the . Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. Jetty Park was bombarded with seaweed last July, giving residents and visitors a smelly reminder of the potent smell of decomposing seaweed. Almy said that his team had a renovation project at Sistrunk Boulevard where they used seaweed soil to cover up damaged areas. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel), Former Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School School Resource Officer Scot Peterson, left, hugs his defense attorney, Mark Eiglarsh, after being found not-guilty on all charges at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, June 29, 2023. Seaweed, sargassum bloom could reach South Florida beaches in March USA TODAY reports: 2023 could be big year for Sargassum. What exactly is the sargassum belt? Sargassum seaweed on Fort Lauderdale beach at low tide April 8, 2023. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/SG118. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel), Tony Montalto, the father of murder victim Gina Montalto makes a phone call in the hallway after the verdict for Scot Peterson. Luckily, your canine friend will be delighted to run and forage through the stinky piles. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Unfortunately, the afternoon tide often brings more seaweed onto the beach that isnt cleaned before the following morning. Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel). Predicting what areas or beaches will be hit by the brown carpet of algae is impossible because weather plays a massive part in the process. Floridas St. George Island State Park earns the top slot. However, the picture can change later in the year for residents and visitors alike. The softness and pristineness extend to . That dirt is available for free pick up by the public at Snyder Park in Fort Lauderdale, located at 3299 SW 4th Ave. Fort Lauderdale is the only city in the entire state that holds registration for composting seaweed. Wailea Beach in Maui and Poipu Beach in Kauai are the other Hawaii beaches in this years top 10. 02:54 - Source: CNN. Large quantities of sargassum can clog motorboat intake valves. When sargassum hits the beachfront, tourists hit the road. Mincer and his team found 15 known types of Vibrio bacteria and one unknown type from samples collected between 2010 and 2013. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. Large patches of what will become stinky shoreline seaweed, stretching from the west coast of Africa to just off the southern coast of Cuba, has made its way to South Florida and local leaders are getting ready. Yucatn Towns Get Creative. WPLG Local 10 News on Twitter: "SAVING ON SEAWEED: As sargassum Broward County prosecutors charged Peterson, a former Broward Sheriffs Office deputy, with criminal charges for failing to enter the 1200 Building at the school and confront the shooter as he perpetuated the Valentines Day 2018 Massacre that left 17 dead and 17 injured. It used to be that sargassum rafts were disparate, sporadic bodies, causing little disruption to beach-going. Sanela holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications with a concentration in radio, television and film from DePaul University. But in the meantime, the blooms continue to get bigger and bigger. Brevard County normally doesnt clean the beaches when seaweed strikes, but a proactive plan has been implemented due to the size of the threat and the danger the seaweed presents to nesting turtles and their young. Smathers Beach and Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach Park are beaches the city and county will clean when the sargassum deposits pile up. But if sargassum moves closer to the coast, the seaweed can wreak havoc on local ecosystems, smothering coral reefs and altering the water's pH balance. Sargassum seaweed plagues many beaches around the world and it is increasingly being seen as a resource to improve the soil. The following beaches are not experiencing issues with sargassum deposits at present: The beaches listed above are currently not affected by red tide conditions either. The answer is that residents and visitors to the Sunshine State should expect sargassum deposits in the Florida Keys and multiple Florida east coast beaches. Getty Images. Cleaning up major rivers from the Mississippi to the Orinoco would be the best step for mitigating excessive sargassum bloom, Lapointe says. Broward County prosecutors charged Peterson, a former Broward Sheriffs Office deputy, with criminal charges for failing to enter the 1200 Building at the school and confront the shooter as he perpetuated the Valentines Day 2018 Massacre that left 17 dead and 17 injured. By. Ana Zangroniz serves as the Florida Sea Grant Extension Agent in Miami-Dade County, FL. Due to the proximity to the Gulf Stream, Miami Beach and West Palm Beach are routinely hit by seaweed deposits. Cue a 900-pound beach-cleaning robot called Bebot, which may or may not have its hands full of seaweed in the summer months. I got my life back after 4 years, a relieved Peterson said outside the courtroom. Broward County prosecutors charged Peterson, a former Broward Sheriffs Office deputy, with criminal charges for failing to enter the 1200 Building at the school and confront the shooter as he perpetuated the Valentines Day 2018 Massacre that left 17 dead and 17 injured. Travel | Miami-Dade County's spending on seaweed cleanup has risen from $2.8 million during the 2020 sargassum season to $3.9 million during last year's season. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/sargassosea.html, https://optics.marine.usf.edu/projects/saws.html, https://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/2023/03/14/seaweed-sargassum-beaches-florida-bloom-record/, https://www.foxweather.com/extreme-weather/massive-seaweed-blobs-florida-beaches-spring-break, https://www.keysnews.com/news/local/sargassum-blob-is-coming-to-the-florida-keys/article_e3cdb0a0-c417-11ed-9cb9-db9b9b966365.html, https://www.local10.com/news/local/2023/03/14/south-florida-beaches-expected-to-see-massive-increase-of-seaweed-doctor-says/Key West sargassum 2023 | Four months early and already piling up, https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/plants-algae/what-exactly-red-tide, https://www.wfla.com/news/local-news/tampa-bay-beaches-will-be-spared-from-giant-seaweed-blob-researchers-say/, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/heres-the-real-story-behind-the-massive-blob-of-seaweed-heading-toward-florida/, https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/earth-systems/blog/red-tide-karenia-brevis/Destin, FL Live Beach Cam, https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2023/03/21/space-coast-officials-prepare-for-massive-seaweed-blob, https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2023/03/22/florida-seaweed-blob-tracker. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel), Former Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School School Resource Officer Scot Peterson embraces his wife, Lydia Rodriguez, after Peterson was found not guilty on all charges at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, June 29, 2023. Rethinking the role of nitrogen and phosphorus in the eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems. 2015. What is sargassum? Here's why seaweed is piling up along Florida - NPR A massive swath of brown algae angles toward Southwest Florida beaches Smyth, A., Laughinghouse, D., Havens, K., Frazer, T. 2022. Beach, aka coastal scientist Stephen Leatherman. In August 2015, she became a full-time reporter and fill-in traffic reporter. Be sure to contact the establishment you plan to stay at to inquire about the sargassum and red tide situation. Published March 25, 2023 at 8:57 AM EDT Brian Cousin / Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute A super-swath of brown seaweed is drifting toward Southwest Florida's beaches, threatening to pile up feet deep in places and stink like rotten eggs. Whether you are a resident or visitor, if you enjoy going to the beach, you are likely to experience sargassum landings the summer. Deliberations in his trial began late Monday and ran through Tuesday and Wednesday before resuming Thursday morning. According to information provided by the Dr. Hu of the University of South Florida, the beaches in the Tampa Bay area will likely not experience many sargassum deposits during the seaweed season as the west coast of Florida is largely spared every year [and] this year is no exception. He stood by, leaving an unrestricted killer to spend 4 minutes and 15 seconds wandering the halls at leisure firing close to 70 rounds and killing or injuring ten of the 34 children and educators who bore the brunt of the massacre. May 10, 2023. With nature trails for biking and hiking, plus birding, fishing, boating and camping, St. George offers more than just excellent swimming and sunbathing. Despite decreasing levels of sargassum, scientists still caution beachgoers and others who may come into contact with the seaweed of potential complications. Here's how the smelly seaweed can impact your beach-going experience this year. "What we thought was just a massive bloom has only gotten bigger and bigger and bigger each year," Barnes adds. It's the real deal.". Punta Cana SEAWEED Problem (2022): Everything You Need To Know!! 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Any beach along the east coast of Florida could be affected at any time during the sargassum season. Copyright 2023 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. A quick look at the live cam situated at Marco Island reveals no trace of sargassum. With authorities and business owners proactively cleaning the mess from the beaches as efficiently as possible, you dont have to cancel a trip to Florida due to sargassum fears. Situated on Floridas Atlantic coast, Daytona Beach is in the firing line when the summer sargassum season starts in earnest. Tulum SEAWEED Conditions [2022]: A Detailed Guide!! Prosecutors contrasted his decision to run from the east entrance of the building, armed and trained to deal with mass shootings, with the decision made by unarmed football coach Aaron Feis, who was told shots were coming from the 1200 building and raced to the west entrance. In some areas, it is mixed with or buried in the sand. Some of these beaches arent as bad due to the cleanup activities. Do miss Atlantic Shores. But regardless, it can effectively ruin a beach day with its rotten egg smell. 2015, Doyle & Franks 2015). According to officials, composting has been saving Fort Lauderdale about $350,000 per year. Another bloom double the width of the United States is now only about 100 miles from Collier County, Florida. The message this sends to parents around the country is if the people you depend on to keep your kid safe fail, nothing happens., Tony Montalto, father of Gina, 14, who was killed that day, was in the courtroom for the verdict. Florida Seaweed Problem 2023: Everything You Need to Know Before You Visit! As sargassum continues to plague many beaches in South Florida, and around the county, Fort Lauderdale crews are out daily, scooping up the smelly seaweed from the beaches and turning it into soil . The No. Local officials in Florida and elsewhere sometimes use heavy machinery to clear beaches, but scientists say that can threaten local sea turtle nests and cause shoreline erosion. Beaches that are seaweed-free in the area include the following popular beaches: As reported by WKRG News 5 in March 2023, no sargassum or red tide is currently affecting the beaches of Destin and Fort Walton. The great Atlantic Sargassum belt. The Florida Keys and east coast of Florida will get most of the seaweed, but even in those parts of Florida in the next few weeks, next month, the amount will decrease substantially," he said. The good guy with the gun didnt do his job, U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Stoneman Douglas alum, said in a tweet. The idea behind the tracking of sargassum is to issue forecast and seaweed outlook bulletins in real-time to provide data on the natural recurring phenomenon so that countries, states, and cities can plan accordingly to counteract the probability of seaweed beaching on their shores. The continuous accumulation of sargassum brough in by daily tides results in large carpets of algae on local beaches. In addition to permitted removal activities, coordination groups meet to discuss current events, response efforts, and sharing of best practices related to sargassum. But now giant clumps of the 13m-ton morass labeled the Great Atlantic sargassum belt are washing up on Florida's beaches, scientists are warning of a real-life threat from the piles of. In that case, Eiglarsh said, there was no mystery about where the shots were coming from and no confusion caused by police radios that werent working properly. cookies. Hu and otherUSF researchers useNASA satellites totrack the mat of sargassum, orseaweed, which some media outlets nicknamed the blob. He says they are not sure why the amount of seaweed has been decreasing in the eastern Atlantic over the past couple months. The 2023 Sargassum "blob:" dispelling myths - UF/IFAS Extension The creeping threat of the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt A Massive Seaweed Bloom in the Atlantic - NASA Earth Observatory He and his attorney also rejected any comparison between his actions on Feb. 14, 2018, with those of the police officers in Uvalde, Texas, who failed to enter an elementary school to stop a gunman who was murdering students. Grace Bay Beach, one of the Caribbean beaches without sargassum seaweed. Hu says the largest bloom ever recorded was in2018. And desperate officials in the Cayman Islands tried a pilot program to pump the seaweed directly out of the water, but swiftly suspended the efforts after realizing how difficult it is to decompose the material, the Associated Press reported. Siesta Key is not immune to seaweed deposits in the past. Miami-Dade County employs contractors to remove the sargassum from heavily affected beaches. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel), Former Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School School Resource Officer Scot Peterson, left, hugs his defense attorney, Mark Eiglarsh, as he emerges from the courtroom after being found not-guilty on all charges at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, June 29, 2023. Once ashore, clumps of sargassum can choke local economies by closing tourism sites, cutting off marinas and constricting fishing yields. This started out at a 90% increase for the first couple months of the year, said Fort Lauderdale Park Operation Superintendent Mark Almy. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Colorado wedding website designer can refuse gay customers, U.S. Supreme Court rules, 15 must-read books coming summer 2023 (and beyond), Photos: Endangered blue whales hanging out off California coast, Over 1,000 sea lions, dolphins are getting sick and dying as toxic bloom off California coast expands, Man and two dogs safe after San Francisco cliff rescue, Summer warning: Prolonged breath holds can cause shallow water blackouts.