JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – Large amounts of sargassum seaweed have once again washed ashore along Jacksonville Beach, creating a noticeable odor for beachgoers and renewed cleanup challenges for crews responsible for maintaining the shoreline.
The buildup, often referred to locally as “stinky seaweed,” is visible along stretches of sand where it has accumulated in recent weeks. While cleanup crews say the presence of seaweed is typical for Northeast Florida during this time of year, the current volume is more substantial than usual.
A beach cleanup worker told News4JAX’s reporter Briana Brownlee and photojournalist Jesse Hanson that he had cleared the shoreline about a month ago, but much of the seaweed returned within weeks. He said the latest accumulation appears thicker than what is typically seen in the region.
Before cleanup efforts can begin, crews must first ensure the beach has been surveyed for sea turtle nests. The process is required to avoid disturbing protected nesting sites during sea turtle season.
Once surveys are complete, tractors can be brought onto the sand to remove seaweed buildup. However, cleanup operations are often interrupted during peak daytime hours when beach crowds increase, limiting the window crews have to work.
Despite those efforts, new seaweed continues to wash ashore, making it an ongoing maintenance challenge for beach workers.
With the upcoming country music festival expected to draw large crowds to the area this weekend, crews hope conditions will allow for additional cleanup before visitors arrive.
For now, beachgoers can expect to continue seeing—and smelling—seaweed along parts of the shoreline as conditions persist.