sargassum

Last year’s sargassum bloom was so big it posed challenges on a hemispheric scale for marine ecosystems and coastal towns. The size of this summer’s fledgling bloom is setting records.

The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt loomed over Florida beaches, threatening sea life and turning away tourists. Now, scientists say the seaweed has suffered a mortal blow after a month of unusually strong winds.

People are being warned after FAU researchers find that Vibrio bacteria is aggressively sticking to plastic particles in the Sargassum seaweed.

By Carrie Pinkard A dark mass stretches from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico. It’s slowly growing, and choking the life out of some marine animals....