Massive algal cloud threatens US beaches

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A huge mass of brown algae is drifting towards the US coast and the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. In total, about 6.1 million tons of the algae moved from the central Atlantic to the Caribbean, marine scientists at the University of South Florida reported.

This is the second largest amount of algae since measurements began in 2011. The first algal cloud outgrowths have already washed up on the beaches of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, it said. According to media reports, beaches on the island of Key West, in the southernmost tip of the US, have already been affected.

The algae affect the important tourist industry in the region. When the seaweed rots after it lands, it releases hydrogen sulfide, which smells like rotten eggs, the Florida Department of Health wrote on its website. The gas is not dangerous, but can irritate the eyes and respiratory tract.

What’s behind the algae cloud?

In addition, micro-organisms living in the algae can lead to skin rashes, for example. Researchers also warn against consuming the algae or using it as a fertilizer. They could contain large amounts of heavy metals such as arsenic or cadmium, it said.

The algae itself is not new. Scientists wrote in a 2019 study that Christopher Columbus had described them as far back as the 15th century, but since 2011 their distribution has greatly increased. The algae carpet stretches from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico, the scientists wrote.

The exact reason for this is still unclear. However, the excessive growth could be related to nitrogen and phosphorus imports from major rivers such as the Amazon, Congo or Mississippi into the oceans, said Brian Lapointe of Florida Atlantic University of the “New York Times.” (SDA)

Source: Blick