Seaweed-don't miss it!

[Rita]

We went to the beach yesterday afternoon. At first we were mad because there was tons of seaweed washing up and it was a bit, um, pungent. I was surf fishing and as the stuff floated by, I noticed all sorts of critters that were hitchhiking on the sargassum. I gave up on fishing and started really looking at the little biospheres and it was amazing! Shrimp, crabs, all sorts of fish with markings similar to the weed were all over the stuff. Here is a link:http://www.imagequestmarine.com/photos/sargassum/index.htm

I urge everyone to take a look, especially if you have kids. They will be fascinated!

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I have seen the crabs and a few other things in it before, but would love to see an angler fish!


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[greenroomsurfer]

Unfortunately, it won't be long until the calls start coming in for the TDC to rake it up and take it off the beach.

However, this yearly influx of seaweed is very good for the beach, in addition to what Skunky was talking about. Sandy beaches are for lack of a better description, a desert wasteland, as far as organic fertilizer goes. When the seaweed washes up on the beach, it dries out rather quickly leaving that wonderful odor that everyone appreciates;-). After it dries it breaks up and is blown all around the beach and most importantly up into the dunes. This is the major non-human source of fertilizer for our dunes outside of rainwater so it is very important for the dunes and beaches.

That being said, the question often comes up, why don't you go ahead and move it to the toe of the dunes. Well, the answer is that the County can't do it as if they touch it, it has to be taken off the beach which is bad for the beach and is impractical as quickly as it washes in. This is due to state and federal permitting issues. So now you know why the County does not actively participate in seaweed removal and why it is good for the beach.

The Tdc better not move a thing. The Seaweed is an important part of the dune building process not to mention beach manicuring I believe is against the law.

 

[avalon]

Think of the seaweed as a spa treatment! Great micronutrients for the skin, ask any esthetician.

 

[jodiFL]

Does anyone remember the year it was so bad that one of the floats in the July 4th parade featured it? I think it was our own Dave R. that wore the gas mask on that float.

 

[greenroomsurfer]

96 and 97 when we were in a La Nina. Now we are entering another La Nina so I suppose were in for some more of it.

 

[BeachSiO2]

The Tdc better not move a thing. The Seaweed is an important part of the dune building process not to mention beach manicuring I believe is against the law.

I am not sure how you missed it, but if you re-read the last sentence of my post you will see that the TDC DOES NOT remove the seaweed even though they get numerous requests to do so. As a matter of fact the information I posted is exactly what the TDC tells people when they get the phone calls. The only rare exception is if there is a specific small area that has dangerous debris mixed into it like happened after the passage of the hurricanes in 2004-05 that had broken boards with nails, etc.

On the other hand mechanical beach cleaning is legal in Florida if permitted and done under certain conditions. Once again, the TDC DOES NOT do mechanical beach cleaning either.

 

[greenroomsurfer]

Opps! not tryin to diss ya Your in front of you and the other Auburn chick that is reading over my shoulder.:roll:

 

[greenroomsurfer]

I thought I was in the College Football Thread. My bad!

 

[BeachSiO2]

Opps! not tryin to diss ya Your in front of you and the other Auburn chick that is reading over my shoulder.:roll:

I thought I was in the College Football Thread. My bad!

No worries. I just don't want them under the bus for something they try to be proactive about. Now let's all go eat some Sargassum.

 

[ASH]

Walked from Ed Walline to the Retreat this morning and there is a pretty fair line of the weeds at the shoreline. Also noted a green tinge to the water gathering right at the sand that I think will create that slime that gets into everything and makes fishing bad for a few weeks. No smell yet though.

Are you folks really serious about eating that stuff or is someone pulling a stunt just to see someone actually try it so you can laugh your arse off at them?