Researchers at Florida Atlantic University are using a $1.3 million grant to see if huge blobs of seaweed can be harvested to help mitigate the economic impact on Florida beaches.
The FAU Harbor Beach Oceanographic Institute this month announced the grant from the Florida Department of Emergency Management, just as another big patch of Sargassum seaweed appears headed for parts of south and southwest Florida, potentially disrupting beach-dependent businesses.
“Sargassumis becoming a devastating mainstay in parts of Florida’s coastal communities, particularly in the Florida Keys, where massive blooms continue to recur,” Brian Lapointe, principal investigator and a research professor at FAU Harbor Branch, said in a . “Economically, a ‘severe’ Sargassumevent could have more than a $20 million impact in just the Keys alone.”
The blooms can produce hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, making them harmful to humans and sea life – and discouraging to tourists. On the other hand, the blobs provide habitat for loggerhead sea turtles and other creatures, the Institute noted.
In the last 10 years, the Sargassum blooms have grown, threatening beach areas across the Caribbean. This year, a six-ton patch has been spotted in the Gulf of Mexico. It is expected to hit some south Florida beaches in May, National Public Radio .
The researchers will study the biomass to help determine the best time to harvest it and how it can be utilized.
Topics Florida
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