Episode 131 The Curious Case of Sargassum

We're not being facetious when we say that sargassum is a serious
threat to our shallow seas and could factor into your spring break
plans. So what is it? Sargassum is a naturally occurring algae, a
seaweed, that serves valuable ecological functions. But, over a
decade ago, it began to show up in unnatural ways and the problem
is getting worse. This year sargassum showed up early and often
along the beaches of the Riviera Maya from Cancun to Belize, and in
Florida and the Bahamas. This January, 2023, has already set a
record for all previous January months. Worse, the amount of
sargassum waiting offshore at this time of year is four times that
of normal. We take a deep dive into this growing environmental
concern by interviewing citizens and scientists to determine how
and why sargassum blooms are occurring, how this is affecting
anglers and wildlife, and what the future might hold? Learn more
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