The Invasion of Sargassum Seaweed in Florida and the Caribbean.

An overabundance of sargassum, a type of buoyant, rootless algae, is causing problems for beaches and tourism in places like Key West and Miami. The seaweed releases a foul odor as it decays and can cause respiratory issues. Removing sargassum from beaches is costly, and disposing of it is another challenge. Some companies are experimenting with turning sargassum into biofuel or construction material, while others are sinking it to prevent it from releasing carbon and fighting climate change. The cause of the increase in sargassum is likely due to modern agriculture techniques sending more nutrients downstream and into the ocean.