Sargassum is a type of brown seaweed that naturally occurs in the Sargasso Sea, a region of the North Atlantic Ocean known for its calm, clear waters. Unlike most seaweeds that anchor to the seafloor, sargassum floats freely and forms large mats on the ocean surface. In recent years, these mats have expanded dramatically, sometimes stretching for several kilometers. When they reach the shoreline, they create significant problems for coastal communities, including negative impacts on human health, tourism, fishing, shipping, and marine ecosystems.
A major shift occurred from 2009 to 2010, when changes in wind and ocean currents pushed sargassum out of the Sargasso Sea and into the tropical Atlantic. Warmer waters and nutrient-rich runoff from rivers like the Amazon created perfect conditions for rapid growth. While sargassum can cause serious problems when it washes ashore, it also plays an important role in the marine environment. At sea, the floating mats act as a drifting ecosystem, offering shelter, food, and breeding grounds for a wide variety of marine species. Additionally, sargassum can absorb heavy metals from the surrounding water, contributing to bioremediation processes in the ocean.
To better manage its impacts, a clearer understanding of how sargassum moves across the ocean surface is essential. Our camera system set up at Pigeon Point is an important tool for monitoring sargassum activity along the coast. It captures continuous footage that helps track the movement of sargassum mats and record the timing of beaching events. This data can be used to identify patterns and support the development of predictive models, ultimately improving early warning systems and guiding more efficient response strategies. By understanding when and where sargassum is likely to arrive, we can better prepare for cleanups and reduce the impacts on local communities and ecosystems. The video below shows our camera system in action, capturing the movement of sargassum as it beaches at Pigeon Point.
