Options scarce for stinky seaweed

As the sun bakes piles of seaweed on the shores of Siesta Key, Sarasota County has few options to clear the odorous algae. Tropical Storm Debby washed away stakes marking sea turtle nests, shrinking the area parks and recreation staff has to clear the flora.

“You’re going to see more seaweed and it’s going to be on the beach longer,” said Sarasota County Parks and Recreation manager George Tatge during the Siesta Key Association monthly meeting yesterday. The missing stakes altered permits required for algae disposal, constricting cleanup efforts to wet sand until Sept. 9 — hacking the 25-foot buffer in half.

With sea turtle hatchlings beginning to emerge, there are new concerns about the piles of algae blocking their path to the Gulf of Mexico. Twenty five percent of the infant reptiles get disoriented during the short trek, according to Mote Marine Laboratory senior scientist Tony Tucker, but that number could be greater this season. “We’ve got to start eating a lot of sushi and wrapping it with the seaweed,” Tatge said.