Sargassum Seaweed Blights Florida's Beaches

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park in Miami has been excluded from Florida International University's "Dr. Beach" Top 10 list for 2026 due to excessive sargassum seaweed. Professor Stephen Leatherman, also known as "Dr. Beach," stated the park has been omitted for several years because of the overwhelming amount of seaweed, which he believes is unnatural. Scientists have observed abnormal sargassum growth since 2011, with massive mats frequently washing ashore along Florida's coasts and the Florida Keys. This year, the "Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt" has grown to record proportions, affecting nearly every region from the eastern Atlantic into the Gulf. Moderate beaching events have occurred along Florida's southeast coast, with some Palm Beach County beaches swamped during Memorial Day weekend. Areas like Sunny Isles Beach and Islamorada have seen shorelines covered in the seaweed, which releases a foul odor when decomposing.

The economic impact of these sargassum blooms on Florida's coastal economies is substantial, with a Woolds Hole Oceanographic Institution report estimating annual losses of $3.63 billion. These losses stem from damage to fisheries, canceled hotel reservations, and avoidance of beachside restaurants. The study utilized economic modeling, satellite observations, and tourism data to calculate these impacts, with expected losses ranging from $4 million in the Big Bend region to $2.68 billion in the southeast. Dr. Beach's ranking criteria include sand softness, water quality, and the presence of pests, with sargassum being a significant negative factor. Other beaches were excluded this year for issues like sewage contamination and erosion.