Thick, rotting piles of sargassum seaweed are taking over prime stretches of Palm Beach County shoreline, choking the sand at Ocean Inlet Park in Ocean Ridge and South Inlet Park in Boca Raton. County officials say they plan to bring in crews to scoop up the mess and haul it to a landfill, with work possibly starting as soon as mid next week.
County Plans Targeted Cleanups
County staff have zeroed in on Ocean Inlet Park and South Inlet Park as the hardest hit spots and say cleanup operations will be scheduled specifically for those locations. A private contractor will be hired to collect the seaweed and transport it to a landfill, according to WPEC (CBS12).
Smell, Stings and Respiratory Risks
When thick mats of sargassum sit on the sand and start to break down, they can release strong odors and gases, including hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, that irritate the nose, throat and airways. NOAA notes these public health and nuisance impacts and points out that cleanup options are limited and often expensive…