SSCA is partnering with the University of South Florida and the University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Coast Research Laboratory for a research project on Pelagic Sargassum. Sargassum is a seaweed or floating algae that is impacting open waters and beaches of the tropical eastern Atlantic, from South America north to eastern coastlines of the United States, along Gulf of Mexico areas and the western Caribbean and even to the far shores of Africa.
To help researchers track the seaweed's migration and stages of growth, citizen scientists/cruisers are being asked to assist in the environmental research by reporting impacted areas. Cruisers should provide their lat/long DTG and type of weed discovered (mats or strings/threads). To report sightings, go the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory's
website.
For more information about the 2019-2020 sargassum season, read this
article by Joan Conover, s/v
Growltiger.