ENVIRONMENT

Huge brown blob of seaweed in ocean at Lake Worth Beach: What sargassum at Midtown, Palm Beach looks like

Can you swim in it? In the water, sargassum is considered harmless to people.

Jennifer Sangalang
Palm Beach Post
  • On some beaches in Florida, the "blobs" of crunchy, dry, brown stinky seaweed range. Some are fairly large
  • When is "seaweed season?" Sargassum usually appears in Florida beaches in the spring, with a peak in June
  • The seaweed contains tiny sea creatures, such as jellyfish larvae, that can irritate your skin on contact

When beachgoers say there's a brown blob of seaweed floating in the ocean, they really mean it.

At least that's what a recent aerial image taken by veteran Palm Beach Post photographer Greg Lovett shows.

Florida beaches have had masses of sargassum since the spring, and "seaweed season" will be at its peak this month through possibly August. Palm Beach County beaches are no exception.

What does it look like? Lots of brown. In the sand. On the shore. In the water. Here's what the seaweed situation looks like in this area and things to know about it.

Can Sargassum get worse? Yes: Sargassum, flesh-eating bacteria and plastic create 'perfect storm,' says Florida study

Seaweed, brown blob at Lake Worth Beach, Florida

Giant blobs of Sargassum hug the shoreline next to the William O Lockhart Municipal Pier in Lake Worth Beach, Florida on June 1, 2023.

Seaweed at Midtown Beach, Florida

Beach webcams: Florida beach live webcams show surf, waves, sargassum seaweed conditions

Sargassum in Palm Beach, Florida

Sargassum accumulates on the beach near Root Trail Tuesday May 30, 2023 in Palm Beach.

Avoid infection: Vibrio bacteria could be in Florida sargassum seaweed. How to prevent getting an infection

What beaches in Florida have a lot of the brown seaweed?

The USA TODAY Network-Florida has reported sargassum in different areas across the state. Click on the links for photos, video and descriptions.

Panhandle:Sargassum washes ashore on Pensacola Beach, but the seaweed is no cause for concern, experts say

Palm Beach sees smelly seaweed: It's here! Blob of smelly seaweed arrives on Palm Beach

Brevard County: Seaweed all over Satellite, Cocoa Beach: What Brevard beaches look like in summer 2023 & what to do

Treasure Coast beaches:Seaweed all over Vero, Fort Pierce, Jensen: What beaches looked like ahead of Memorial Day

Photos of sargassum, brown blobs of seaweed in Florida

What is sargassum?

Sargassum is a species of large brown seaweed, a type of macroalgae that floats in large masses.

On some beaches in Florida, the "blobs" of crunchy, dry, brown stinky seaweed are fairly large. In one of our photo galleries below, you'll see a small "mountain" of sargassum seaweed, and a black dog posing next to it. It's in the water, on the shore, surrounding beachgoers who just want to play in the sand.

When is 'seaweed season' in Florida?

Sargassum seaweed tends to appear in Florida beaches in the spring, with a peak in June.

Seaweed 'blobs' in Florida. Is sargassum dangerous to humans?

In the water, sargassum is considered harmless to people.

On land, sargassum begins to rot and produces smelly hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, which can irritate eyes, ears, and noses. People with asthma or other breathing illnesses may have trouble breathing if they inhale too much of it.

In open areas like beaches, however, moving air usually dilutes the gas to non-harmful levels.

The seaweed also contains tiny sea creatures, such as jellyfish larvae, that can irritate your skin on contact.

Seaweed season? Giant mats of seaweed lurk off Florida coast and have beached in spurts but will peak soon

Oy! Sargassum, a smelly seaweed, may be coming soon to a Gulf beach near you. What to know about it

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Contributing: George Petras and Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY

Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.