SUFB 1113: Can We Reuse Sargassum For Compost And Topsoil?

If you have been to any beach in the Atlantic Ocean and/or Caribbean Sea, then you have probably witnessed a beach that has piles and piles of sargassum messing it up and causing a stink.  I remember this happening on my last visit to Mexico. My family and I went on vacation and we were looking forward to relaxing on the beach and swimming in the Ocean. When we got there; however, the beach was populated by piles (up to the middle of my shin!) of sargassum and trucks that were carrying it away. The trucks were there all day. Needless to say that the beach was not as peaceful as we expected.  It would be great if we could find a way to reuse the sargassum in a way that is sustainable instead of disposing of it in a landfill, right? Well, researchers at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences are conducting a pilot study to answer that question. The big question at hand is whether the sargassum contains elevated levels of Arsenic as they did in studies from Mexico and Texas. Tests are currently being analyzed to determine if sargassum along Florida beaches have similarly elevated levels of Arsenic.   If the levels are below the limits of Arsenic, then the pilot project can begin and we can see if sargassum can be reused as compost and mixed within topsoil for agricultural purposes.  Link to Article: https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2021/01/13/can-sargassum-seaweeds-brown-pungent-properties-serve-as-a-green-solution-to-topsoil/ Want To Talk Oceans? Join the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group. Speak Up For Blue Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakupforblue/ Speak Up For Blue Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpeakUpforBlue Check out the Shows on the Speak Up For Blue Network: Marine Conservation Happy Hour Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2k4ZB3x Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2kkEElk Madame CuriosityApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2xUlSax Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2V38QQ1 ConCiencia Azul: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2k6XPio Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2k4ZMMf Dugongs & Seadragons: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lB9Blv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2lV6THt Environmental Studies & Sciences Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lx86oh Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2lG8LUh Marine Mammal Science: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2k5pTCI Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2k1YyRL Projects For Wildlife Podcast: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Oc17gy Spotify: https://spoti.fi/37rinWz Ocean Science RadioApple Podcast: https://apple.co/3chJMfA Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3bnkP18 The Guide To Mindful Conservation: Dancing In Pink Hiking Boots:Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/31P4UY6 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3f7hDJw