“SARGASSUM” – some of us have learned a new dirty word this August. It’s ok, say it SAR-GAS-SUM, seaweed that floats into tropical areas with shallow waters and coral reefs. Sargassum is a form of seaweed named by the Portuguese sailors who found it in the Sargasso Sea, and was noted by Christopher Columbus when he sailed into the Sea of Sargasso. This year was reported by researchers to be the worst year since 2003 for the pesky brown algae that litters the beaches of Florida, the Texas Gulf area, and drifts down to our white beaches in paradise. Although our first impression is that it’s an ugly, stinky nuisance, we need to understand it’s an important part of the beach and water ecosystem. Many sea creatures feed from it and the baby turtles hatching during this time use it for protection on their long journey.
So what do we do — RAKE or NOT?? Some properties bury the sargasso on the shoreline. However, turtles have a challenge if they choose to dig where a pile of sargasso has been buried. Many caretakers are aware of this and the daily rakings are being buried high on the dunes.
Does raking impact beach elevation? Some studies show raking does not appear to have an effect on beach elevation because of the insignificant difference between elevations of raked and unraked sites during the course of one year. However, studies that cover a longer period of time are needed.
Birds are noted to eat the fresh Sargasso that lies at the waterline and will also seek food sources living in the washed up Sargasso on the beach. Texas A&M University is currently studying sargasso and has developed a tracking system for where and when it will hit the Gulf beaches of Texas.
As research continues we’ll learn more about this unsightly plague on our beaches. It’s impossible to keep up with the raking due to the daily wash up. Keeping the beaches as clean as possible may be the best way to please tourists and mama turtles. Until firm documentation becomes available we have to walk between both sides. It’s noted that as the winds change in the fall, the sargasso will leave our area.
References:
http://www.glencoe.com/qe/qe98columbus.php?qi=3987
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargasso_Sea
http://www.conserveturtles.org/actionalerts.php?page=a_sargassum