washed up in Key Biscayne on April 24 and was raked into piles to be taken to the landfill [ ASHLEY MIZNAZI | The Miami Herald ]By Michelle Marchante Miami Herald (TNS)Published YesterdayPiles of smelly seaweed have washed ashore on Miami Beach and Key Biscayne a stinky reminder that this is sargassum season The brown seaweed is a common sight across the Caribbean and on South Florida beaches Researchers who track seaweed blooms expect 2025 to be another “major sargassum year” for the Atlantic Basin — but how much seaweed washes ashore on South Florida beaches depends on winds and currents Sargassum season runs from March through October “All it takes is the right currents, the right winds, to push a particular patch on shore and create an inundation,” said Brian Barnes, research assistant professor at the Optical Oceanography Lab, part of the University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science. In the ocean, seaweed offers an important habitat for marine life. But when seaweed washes ashore, the rotten egg smell can put a damper on beach days. Washed-up seaweed can also cause health problems for people with chronic respiratory conditions. The brown seaweed that washes up on Florida beaches is known as sargassum. Once seaweed washes ashore, the piles start to rot and release hydrogen sulfide gas, which smells like rotten eggs. While it’s common to see some seaweed at the beach, sargassum season can bring large amounts ashore. Predicting which Florida and Caribbean beaches will be inundated with seaweed, and when, is complicated. That could soon change. Barnes for several years has led a federally funded project to create a forecast model meant to help predict when and where large patches of seaweed will wash ashore. He expects a test version of the model will be released later this year, with the initial forecast set to focus on the Florida Keys and the rest of South Florida. A similar model for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgins Island will likely be released in 2026. The forecast model is part of a five-year $3.2 million grant awarded in 2023 from the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Barnes’ USF team has been working on the model with researchers from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System, NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meterological Laboratory, and the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning. “There’s a lot of sargassum offshore, off the Keys, and even in the Gulf of Mexico,” said Barnes, noting that seaweed often collects in these areas before winds and currents shift the blooms toward the Florida Keys, Key Biscayne and Miami Beach. Whether the seaweed remains offshore or eventually floats onto beaches is what the future forecast model hopes to predict. In Miami Beach, for example, “stronger than usual easterly and southeasterly winds have likely contributed to the increased amount of sargassum washing ashore,” city spokeswoman Melissa Berthier said in an email statement to the Miami Herald. “The prevailing winds push floating mats of seaweed closer to our coastline, resulting in the heavier deposits we have seen along our beaches recently.” Subscribe to our free DayStarter newsletter You’re all signed up!Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started. Are there seaweed hot spots in Miami?While Florida might see blooms of seaweed this season that doesn’t mean all beaches will be full of it through October The sargassum will show up on beaches in clumps when the tide is high and the wind is blowing from east to west The biggest accumulations of sargassum on Miami-Dade beaches happens during high tide twice a day according to Miami-Dade County’s sargassum webpage County crews generally get rid of smelly seaweed early in the morning when the second tide arrives in the afternoon it often brings another wave of Sargassum to the shoreline,” the county said Key Biscayne had large swath’s of seaweed wash ashore on April 24 Some parts of Miami Beach’s shoreline have also seen more seaweed buildup recently compared to other areas On April 28, the Greater Miami and Miami Beach website’s webcam showed dark pockets of seaweed in the water and shoreline in the beach area of 17th and 18th streets in the early morning didn’t have much seaweed in the water or shoreline While it’s hard to predict which beach will get a blanket of seaweed Miami-Dade County has identified four seaweed hot spots: Haulover just north of Haulover Cut; Bal Harbour just south of Haulover Cut; Miami Beach between 26th and 31st streets; and beaches along the South Pointe jetty Sargassum season also coincides with Miami-Dade’s sea turtle nesting season That means sea turtle nests need to be marked before any seaweed cleanups can begin in Miami Beach considered a crucial nesting habitat for loggerhead The hydrogen sulfide gas seaweed releases when it rots can irritate your eyes “If you have asthma or other respiratory illnesses you will be more sensitive to hydrogen sulfide You may have trouble breathing after you inhale it,” according to the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County People who are exposed to hydrogen sulfide for long periods in an enclosed space like workers in wastewater treatment plants according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hydrogen sulfide levels in an area like the beach where large amounts of air flow can dilute levels is not expected to harm health,” according to Monroe’s health department There’s also no indication the gas causes cancer in humans Anyone experiencing severe trouble breathing should call 911 Miami-Dade County also is keeping an eye on evolving information about the relationship between sargassum and a warm coastal bacteria that can cause rare and severe life-threatening infections, including an infection known as “flesh-eating bacteria.” “I don’t think everyone should be running away from sargassum as if it’s going to kill them,” Linda Amaral-Zettler, a marine microbiologist at Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and one of the authors of the recent study, told NBC News. “That’s simply not the case. But I think we need to think responsibly about the potential risks.” Health officials usually recommend people who live near the beach keep their windows and doors closed when a lot of sargassum washes ashore. Florida Keys health officials have recommended anyone with asthma or other respiratory problems stay away — or reduce their time — at the beach if there is seaweed. If you don’t want to risk getting stung by an animal living in the seaweed, don’t touch it and stay away. And before you think about taking some seaweed home to cook, think again. Florida’s health department said that’s not a good idea because sargassum might contain “large amounts of heavy metals like arsenic and cadmium.” 🎙 Welcome to the Business Beyond the Beach Talk Show Chairman of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce Join us as we dive into Richard’s deep roots in the vibrant city of Miami Beach Don’t miss this insightful conversation and stay tuned for future episodes featuring more leaders and changemakers shaping the future—beyond the beach For more shows, visit: https://www.communitynewspapers.com/CnewsTV look no further than Miami Community Newspapers This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed With topics ranging from local news to community events Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area and local initiatives within its respective community Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com or Grant@communitynewspapers.com Promote your business to the localized audience you want to reach with Miami's Community Newspapers. Call 305.669.7355 or view our Media Kit. A witness described the sight as "very concerning" Charlotte Phillipp is a Weekend Writer-Reporter at PEOPLE and was previously an entertainment reporter at The Messenger SEARCHThe global authority in superyachting The Tecnomar Lamborghini 63 sport yacht named TNT has been refloated following her sinking off the coast of Miami Beach, Florida. The incident occurred this Saturday (3 May) near Monument Island, an artificial landmark frequented by tourists. The US Coast Guard (USCG) responded to the emergency distress call at approximately 5:00pm, successfully evacuating and transporting the yacht's 32 guests to Miami Beach Marina. No injuries were reported. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pablo Longa (@capt.pablo82) Available imagery shows the extent of the damage The yacht had listed slightly on her starboard side and capsized stern-first According to a post by the USCG’s Southeast Command several "good Samaritan boat operators" in the area also assisted in the evacuation Delivered in 2023, the 19.2-metre TNT belongs to the Lamborghini 63 series built by Tecnomar, a brand of The Italian Sea Group. The carbon-fibre model is a crossover with the luxury Italian sports car brand and has several famous owners, including UFC fighter Conor McGregor. Top features include an eye-watering top speed of 60 knots and an interior inspired by the Lamborghini, including carbon-fibre detailing, sporty seating and the brand's iconic "start & stop button". BOAT International will update the story as it develops. Latest news, brokerage headlines and yacht exclusives, every weekday SubscribeSign up to our newslettersSign up to BOAT International email newsletters to get the latest superyacht news Boat International Media Ltd © 2008 - 2025 Content presented under the "BOAT Presents" logo is an advertising feature and Boat International Limited has been paid to include this content (CBS12) — What started as a luxury cruise ended in chaos Saturday Coast Guard rescued 32 people from a sinking Lamborghini yacht near Star Island The USCG says they and Miami Beach Police's marine unit responded to the 63-foot vessel around 5 p.m and found it partially submerged and taking on water near Star Island 32 people stood on top of the front of the vessel as crews worked to transport them to safety, according to the USCG's post to X "We were just on the boat and we saw a bunch of cops, police boats, and there was another yacht that was flipped over completely vertical in the water," witness Rachael Miller told CBS Miami Many videos of the incident were uploaded to social media by shocked onlookers it’s the Lamborghini boat," one viewer said in a video shared with CBS Miami The Coast Guard confirmed all 32 aboard were rescued and brought to the Miami Beach marina Khaleda Rahman is Newsweek's National Correspondent based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on education and national news. Khaleda joined Newsweek in 2019 and had previously worked at the MailOnline in London, New York and Sydney. She is a graduate of University College London. Languages: English. You can get in touch with Khaleda by emailing k.rahman@newsweek.com either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content Videos on social media show influencers taking pictures as a luxury yacht sank off Miami Beach on Saturday Coast Guard said 32 people were rescued from a 63-foot vessel that was taking on water near Flagler Monument Island on Saturday Photos shared by the Coast Guard on social media show at least a dozen people Some appear to be holding phones and taking pictures or filming videos Footage posted on social media showed several young men taking photos or videos after being rescued, according to the New York Post "No f**** given," a person said in a video posted on Instagram "Everyone on the sinking yacht taking selfies." Another video showed women laughing after being rescued from the yacht women and children," a man can be heard shouting in the clip "It's giving Titanic," one women is heard saying Miami Beach Police responded to reports of the vessel taking on water at around 5 p.m All 32 people were rescued with no injuries including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and "good Samaritan" boat operators in the vicinity Dispatch calls and witnesses referred to the yacht as a "Lamborghini vessel," but the exact model was not confirmed, said CBS News Miami identified it as a $4 million Lamborghini Tecnomar in a recent video of the sinking vessel Newsweek has contacted the Coast Guard and FWC for comment via emails sent outside regular business hours Coast Guard Southeast wrote on X: "A @USCG Sta #MiamiBeach crew & partner agencies responded to a 63-ft vessel taking on water near Monument Island rescuing 32 people w/no injuries reported around 5 p.m. Rachael Miller told CBS News Miami: "We were just on the boat and we saw a bunch of cops and there was another yacht that was flipped over completely vertically in the water It wasn't immediately clear what caused the vessel to sink The Coast Guard said commercial salvage crews are working to recover the yacht Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsweek is committed to journalism that's factual and fair Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter. Newsletters in your inbox See all Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Footage shows the passengers being passed life jackets as the luxury yacht sunk into the water I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Thirty-two people were rescued after a yacht party ended in disaster with the $4.5million vessel sinking off the coast of Miami Beach Pictures had showed the Lamborghini boat’s sundeck filled with a group of influencers during the Formula One weekend in the city the 63-foot vessel started taking water near Monument Island Footage from the yacht showed female passengers being passed orange life vests before rescue teams Others on board could be seen taking pictures of the sinking yacht while one person joked “iceberg The stranded passengers were taken to Miami Beach Marina one of a limited-edition fleet of just 11 ships designed by the high-end Italian car maker and then we realized half the boat was in the water," one passenger told CBS News Miami Officials have not yet confirmed what caused the boat to start sinking. A USCG social media post confirmed that no-one suffered injuries Witness Rachael Miller told CBS News Miami that she caught a glimpse of the yacht sticking upright in the water. "We were just on the boat and we saw a bunch of cops, police boats, and there was another yacht that was flipped over completely vertically in the water," she said. "It was vertical. Yeah, it was straight up in the water. “It definitely didn't look ordinary, and it's just very concerning,” she added. USGC Cpt. Yasmany Linares told CBS News Miami he joked with his first mate that the call-out was not to “do pictures and photos” after receiving the alert, before making clear it was a rescue mission. He told CBS News Miami: “If that boat flips, all these people can be trapped under the boat and that's a different story.” Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Authorities said 32 people were rescued from a sinking boat off the Miami coast on May 3 The U.S. Coast Guard responded to a vessel taking on water near Monument Island around 5 p.m. ET, the Guard said in an X post The 32 people rescued from the scene of the sinking 63-foot boat were recovered without injuries The Coast Guard did not immediately respond to request for comment from USA TODAY on May 4 Witnesses told CBS Miami that the boat went vertical as it took on water and it's just very concerning," Rachael Miller told the station The Guard said May 3 that commercial salvage was working to recover the boat and that it was not hazardous to navigation 'Lamborghini' boat sinks near wealthy enclaveDispatch audio obtained by CBS Miami described the boat as a "Lamborghini vessel." The boat was identified by Yachts Worldwide, a yacht-dedicated social media account, as a Lamborghini Tecnomar in a video of the rescue scene it posted. The newspaper notes that the island is near the wealthy Hibiscus The views expressed here are the author's own RosaNegra Miami is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with festive food and drink specials including $10 Centinela Tequila and Santo Gusano shots $12 Malqueridas made with Patrón Reposado and Ilegal Mezcal $8 selected beers including Cielito Lindo and Charro Negro Guests can also enjoy live entertainment throughout the evening with a mariachi band known for its high-energy ambiance and Latin-inspired dining experiences Saturday, 8:00 amMiami, FL — Thirty-two people were safely rescued when a Lamborghini yacht began sinking off Miami Beach over the weekend The 63-foot boat began taking on water off Monument Island late Saturday afternoon Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and marine patrol units from local police agencies responded to calls for help The people were taken to the Miami Beach Marina and checked out by Miami Beach Fire Rescue and there was another yacht that was flipped over completely vertical in the water,” Rachel Miller Authorities said they don't yet know why the yacht began taking on water It was later pushed out of the channel and did not pose a threat to boaters The fish and wildlife agency will lead an investigation with an air and sea show drawing large crowds to the beach in Fort Lauderdale and the Miami Grand Prix in nearby Miami Gardens Coast Guard Southeast shows crew & partner agencies responding to a 63-ft vessel taking on water near Monument Island Coast Guard Southeast shows crew and partner agencies responding to a 63-ft vessel taking on water near Monument Island MIAMI (AP) — Thirty-two people were safely rescued when a Lamborghini yacht began sinking off Miami Beach over the weekend The 63-foot (19-meter) boat began taking on water off Monument Island late Saturday afternoon Authorities said they don’t yet know why the yacht began taking on water A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued until midnight on Tuesday Falling tree limbs in Birmingham kills one person Authorities said they don’t yet know why the yacht began taking on water Stay secure and make sure you have the best reading experience possible by upgrading your browser We’re giving Chuck & Blair the tribute they deserve with a mini marathon featuring their most dramatic and relive the couple that defined couture-level drama 💋 The Goodbye Gossip Girl – Senior year ends and Chuck might finally say what we’ve been waiting for 👑 Riding in Town Cars with Boys – A car ride and the impossible choice between royalty and real love and the last word from Gossip Girl herself these hues add a burst of freshness into any space Annie Schlechter; Prop Stylist: Frances Bailey You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter Thirty-two people were safely rescued when a Lamborghini yacht began sinking off Miami Beach over the weekend “We saw, like, a bunch of cop boats, like police boats, and there was another yacht that was flipped over, completely vertical in the water,” Rachel Miller, who witnessed the incident, told Miami television station WSVN Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account MIAMI — Thirty-two people were safely rescued when a Lamborghini yacht began sinking off Miami Beach over the weekend Authorities said they don't yet know why the yacht began taking on water Get the latest breaking news as it happens By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy Updated 13 minutes ago Officer slashed in Amity Harbor .. Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months Check the URL for spelling errors.Please contact us if you believe this page is missing.(Error 404)