For a few years, consultants have informed us that sargassum is innocent to people and swimming in a sea the place the algae is current shouldn’t be a problem. Though that’s nonetheless partially true, it’s no longer recommended.
Let’s make issues clear. Swimming on a seashore with small patches of sargassum scattered throughout the waters poses little to no well being danger.
The issue with sargassum immediately is that these small spots have change into tons. This algae will not be solely current within the water but additionally on seashores, the place it may well sit for days in a phenomenon generally known as “invasion.“
The algae “is an efficient factor when it’s out offshore… Sargassum gives habitat for lots of of species and invertebrates and even endangered sea turtles, supporting pelagic fisheries like mahi mahi and different fish that feed on prey gadgets,” explains Brian LaPointe, a analysis professor on the Florida Atlantic College Harbor Department Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce.
However sargassum is not secluded within the open sea. Since 2014, it has began to massively arrive at most Caribbean seashores, from the Lesser Antilles to the South of Florida.
Why you shouldn’t swim on seashores with sargassum
In line with Rosa Elisa Rodríguez Martínez, member of the Educational Unit of Reef Techniques of the Institute of Marine Sciences and Limnology of Quintana Roo, swimming in a sea coated with sargassum might be dangerous to swimmers as a result of it comprises zinc, arsenic, lead and phosphorus.
Alternatively, the Heart for Useful resource Administration and Environmental Research (CERMES) warned that extended contact with sargassum produces pores and skin rashes and nausea.
When it decomposes, this algae causes “anoxia,” which means the water loses oxygen. This produces an accumulation of toxic sulfur gasoline, therefore its disagreeable odor.
Jellyfish larvae current in massive mats of sargassum may also trigger itchy rashes and purple spots on the pores and skin.
“You may swim within the water if there’s sargassum and other people do, however I’ve seen some experiences of sea lice related to sargassum in water with massive mats of it floating round,” says LaPointe.
Right here, the professional is referring to reasonable portions of sargasum, not what we’re witnessing now on many seashores within the Caribbean.
One other side to pay attention to is the stinging organisms residing in massive blobs of algae.
Along with all of this, swimming with sargassum may also be disagreeable.
You will have to push it out of your route, however when it’s not attainable, sargassum can really feel like a loofah sponge rubbing up in opposition to your pores and skin.
In actual fact, dolphins use it to scratch themselves, in line with experiences by the Wild Dolphin Project.
Due to this fact, it’s best to search for a seashore that isn’t closely invaded by sargassum and to keep away from coming into the ocean if there’s numerous algae.
