Abstract

The Atlantic Sargassum Belt has caused an influx of sargassum to wash-up on Florida shores as well as other countries in the Wider Caribbean Region leading to many issues. These influxes began in 2011; Florida has taken a reactive approach towards the issue. Miami-Dade County requested additional funding in the amount of $2 million from the Florida legislature for sargassum clean-up, as the cost of addressing sargassum is increasing. The Florida legislature recently approved $5 million to the Division of Emergency Management towards sargassum clean-up efforts. As the influxes continue to increase in biomass, there is a need for efficient and active management. The sargassum problem is observed in a narrowed range through Miami-Dade County. Methods of clean-up and management dimensions impact the parks located within this county. It is also important to address how hydrogen sulfide and sargassum removal methods conflict with state and federal protection measures. Considering other countries’ management strategies, Miami-Dade County could find other policies or programs to manage sargassum levels that are more economically and environmentally efficient.