02/06/2026
It is a floating habitat, nursery, feeding ground, and shelter for juvenile fish, sea turtles, crab, shrimp and tiny ocean creatures that has washed ashore.
It is sargassum.
While floating sargassum in the open ocean is a valuable habitat, when large amounts wash up on shore, it creates challenges.
As the seaweed decomposes, it can reduce oxygen levels in nearshore waters, reduce the water quality, affect seagrass beds, coral reefs, fisheries, tourism, and make it harder for sea turtles to nest.
Why are we having more sargassum washing up on our beaches?
Scientists believe warmer seas, nutrient pollution, and shifting currents are helping fuel larger blooms across the Atlantic, sending more sargassum to Caribbean shores than ever before.
Sargassum is more than just seaweed- it is an ever present sign of changing ocean conditions.
