LTC 127-2023 - Sargassum Update
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
LETTER TO COMMISSION
LTC #
TO: Honorable Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Alina T. Hudak, City Manager
DATE: March 16, 2023
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON SARGASSUM (SEAWEED) SEASON 2023
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (LTC) is to update the Mayor and City
Commission on the coordination with Miami-Dade County in preparation for the
anticipated surge of Sargassum (seaweed) expected to arrive on our beaches in
the coming weeks.
The "Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt" is a vast bloom of brown algae that
stretches approx. 5,500 miles in the ocean from the coast of West Africa to the
Gulf of Mexico. This year’s bloom is anticipated to be the largest ever recorded
— weighing approximately 20 million tons — and is visible from outer space.
Preliminary reports from the scientific community are anticipating large amounts
of sargassum to begin arriving on our beaches in the coming weeks as
Sargassum season runs from March through October.
The City’s sargassum removal effort is managed by the Miami-Dade County
Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department (PROS) through their vendor,
Beach Raker. I have personally met with Maria Nardi, Miami-Dade County Parks
Director and senior staff, 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 $4.2 Million.
Depending on the daily conditions, crews may operate 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.
While our beach typically remains open during removal efforts, at times the
cleanup must be suspended if there are large numbers of beachgoers present.
Excess sargassum that is removed from the sand is transported to a landfill or to
a designated staging area, where it dries, is composted, and recycled into
fertilizer.
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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.
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.
For questions on the foregoing, contact Adrian Morales, Facilities and Fleet
Management Director at adrianmorales@miamibeachfl.gov
ATH / EC / AM
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