What's the Brown Water at the Beach?

We are currently experiencing a bloom of Trichodesmium algae along the Collier County coastline. We received reports June 11, 2023 from Seagate Beach and offshore along Gordon Pass and Keewaydin Island. This bloom can appear brown, green, and reddish pink in color. It is commonly called “sea sawdust” and has a smell like rotting hay—a sickening sweet smell.

Many people mistake this bloom for an oil or sewage spill, but when looked at closely, you can see small, saw-dust like material. It typically blooms offshore and we see it hit our beaches almost every year in May and June, but occasionally wind and currents bring it to our beaches and even into some back bays.

Researchers have not documented any negative effects of Trichodesmium on marine life or people in Florida, but swimming in algae blooms is not recommended by the Florida Department of Health. 

For more information please visit. For more information, please visit https://myfwc.com/research/redtide/general/trichodesmium/.