Florida Atlantic University, began studying these algae in the 1980s.

The accumulations of Sargassum on the beaches were a real problem for the tourism industry. They were described in a New York Times article titled “Where’s the Beach Under the Seaweed?” “. Excessive strandings of Sargassum not only cause problems for tourism, but they also have an impact on biodiversity, marine fauna and biological habitat. They can potentially form “dead zones” (hypoxia or anoxic conditions) in coastal ecosystems such as mangroves “.

1 / The invasion of Sargasso is not natural. It is a direct consequence of the pollution of rivers and climate change. This invasion has increased every year since 2011.

2 / Trapped in the bays and on the beaches, the Sargassum consume all the oxygen and suffocate thousands of fish and other underwater life before dying.

3 / Sargassum dies and decomposes with the smell of rotten eggs. The specific odor of hydrogen sulfide “H²S”, a very toxic gas (it can be fatal) and flammable at high concentrations.

4 / The accumulation of Sargassum on beaches can prevent sea turtles from accessing them to lay eggs or leaving the spawning area. Exhausted or suffocated, they die. The entire ecosystem trapped under the carpet of decaying algae also dies.

5 / The poor baby turtles find it difficult to cross the Sargasso wall. Trapped and vulnerable to natural predators, many die entangled in the immense mats of algae, which normally at sea, serve as their refuge. (Some “experts” say you shouldn’t touch the Sargassum which are also a refuge for sea turtles and fish. But if the turtles are no longer able to reach the nesting area, and if the babies are no longer able to reach the nesting area. can no longer reach the sea, there will be no more sea turtles!).