LTC 324-2022 UPDATE ON THE SARGASSUM (SEAWEED)DocuSign Envelope ID: E1CB16C6-E777-4767-876C-4F7D4FEEA609
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach FL 33139
LTC# 324-2022 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Alina T. Hudak, City Manager
DATE: August 5, 2022
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON THE SARGASSUM (SEAWEED)
The purpose of this LTC is to update the Mayor and City Commission on the removal efforts of
the Sargassum seaweed.
Sargassum (seaweed) is a naturally occurring brown algae found in the marine environment. It
typically floats on the surface of the open ocean and is carried close to the shore by currents,
where it is deposited along the shoreline throughout both incoming and outgoing tides. The
amount which accumulates on our beaches varies seasonally and is dependent on a number of
factors including availability of nutrients in the water, water temperatures, carbon dioxide
concentration in the air, wind direction, and ocean currents. The season typically begins in March
and runs through October; however, an increased abundance generally occurs during warmer
months.
According to the Florida Department of Health, as Sargassum decomposes, it gives off a
substance called hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide has a very unpleasant odor, like rotten
eggs. Although the seaweed itself cannot harm people, tiny sea creatures that live in Sargassum
can cause skin rashes and blisters. Hydrogen sulfide can also irritate the eyes, nose and throat.
Individuals with asthma or other breathing illnesses, are more sensitive to these symptoms.
However, the levels of hydrogen sulfide in an area with large amounts of airflow, like the beach,
are not expected to reach harmful levels.
Over the past few weeks, our city has experienced a heavier influx of this brown algae along our
shoreline. The city continues to coordinate with Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open
Spaces and their vendor, Beach Raker, to safely remove excess seaweed from our beaches. I
have personally met with Maria Nardi, Miami-Dade County Parks Director, to further coordinate
city and county efforts to address this concern. The county’s budget for Sargassum removal has
been increased from previous years to $5 Million. Additionally, Beach Raker has relocated
additional resources to Miami Beach to address the demand for service.
Crews are operating daily to collect and dispose as well as cut and turn the buildup of seaweed
on the water line across our 7-mile beach. Removals are performed from 22 – 32 streets and to
the jetty north of Government Cut, which have been identified as hotspots (areas with excessive
accumulation). Prior to operating heavy machinery, a team surveys for sea turtle nests each
morning. Once the survey is complete, beach operations crews proceed to clean the beach until
sunset, regardless of tidal conditions.
July 2022 was the highest removal over the past three years with over 5,000 cubic yards of
DocuSign Envelope ID: E1CB16C6-E777-4767-876C-4F7D4FEEA609
Sargassum removed. Any further removal efforts would result in a full beach closure for an
extended period to safely incorporate larger machinery.
July '22 Seaweed Log* July '21 Seaweed Log* July '20 Seaweed Log*
1-Jul-22 191 1-Jul-21 37 1-Jul-20 186
2-Jul-22 235 2-Jul-21 37 2-Jul-20 120
3-Jul-22 81 3-Jul-21 103 3-Jul-20 142
4-Jul-22 213 4-Jul-21 59 4-Jul-20 27
5-Jul-22 81 5-Jul-21 169 5-Jul-20 10
6-Jul-22 103 6-Jul-21 37 6-Jul-20 54
7-Jul-22 267 7-Jul-21 59 7-Jul-20 32
8-Jul-22 169 8-Jul-21 59 8-Jul-20 32
9-Jul-22 345 9-Jul-21 59 9-Jul-20 32
10-Jul-22 213 10-Jul-21 37 10-Jul-20 32
11-Jul-22 257 11-Jul-21 125 11-Jul-20 10
12-Jul-22 279 12-Jul-21 81 12-Jul-20 10
13-Jul-22 81 13-Jul-21 81 13-Jul-20 10
14-Jul-22 37 14-Jul-21 81 14-Jul-20 10
15-Jul-22 81 15-Jul-21 37 15-Jul-20 10
16-Jul-22 59 16-Jul-21 103 16-Jul-20 10
17-Jul-22 81 17-Jul-21 235 17-Jul-20 18
18-Jul-22 103 18-Jul-21 345 18-Jul-20 81
19-Jul-22 213 19-Jul-21 323 19-Jul-20 76
20-Jul-22 301 20-Jul-21 367 20-Jul-20 252
21-Jul-22 543 21-Jul-21 345 21-Jul-20 230
22-Jul-22 279 22-Jul-21 169 22-Jul-20 230
23-Jul-22 411 23-Jul-21 103 23-Jul-20 264
24-Jul-22 301 24-Jul-21 37 24-Jul-20 318
25-Jul-22 Pending 25-Jul-21 15 25-Jul-20 252
26-Jul-22 Pending 26-Jul-21 15 26-Jul-20 98
27-Jul-22 Pending 27-Jul-21 37 27-Jul-20 164
28-Jul-22 Pending 28-Jul-21 15 28-Jul-20 54
29-Jul-22 Pending 29-Jul-21 15 29-Jul-20 76
30-Jul-22 Pending 30-Jul-21 37 30-Jul-20 120
31-Jul-22 Pending 31-Jul-21 15 31-Jul-20 120
Total 4924 Total 3237 Total 3080
*Seaweed totals are represented in cubic yards
State and federal environmental regulations prohibit the removal of seaweed from the water prior
to its landing on the shore. The water is under the jurisdiction of the state through the Miami-Dade
County Division of Environmental Resources Management.
Sargassum provides crucial habitat for many marine species, including endangered sea turtles,
which, upon hatching on our beaches, make their way out to the Sargassum to spend their juvenile
years feeding and growing amongst the seaweed mats. It also provides nutrients to the shoreline
DocuSign Envelope ID: E1CB16C6-E777-4767-876C-4F7D4FEEA609
and acts as an important element in shoreline stabilization by replenishing areas that suffer beach
erosion due to hurricanes and storms, thereby helping to keep our shorelines resilient.
Please visit: https://www.miamidade.gov/seaweed to read more information from Miami-Dade
County.
Should you have any additional questions, please contact Adrian Morales at 305.673.7000 ext.
22932.
AH/LS