“Not Just Seaweed”: HRI Launches Video Series, Social Media Posts Highlighting the Science and Ecology of Sargassum
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — As the beach season hits high gear along the Texas Gulf coast, visitors and residents alike are noticing large amounts of sargassum or floating brown seaweed washing up on shore.
While sargassum can sometimes be unsightly and produce an unpleasant odor, it plays an important ecological role in the health of the beaches along the Texas coast.
Throughout May and June, experts with the Harte Research Institute (HRI) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMUCC) will feature videos and social media posts about sargassum.
Jace Tunnell, the Director of Community Engagement at HRI and creator of the popular Beachcombing series, will create a series of videos, and scientists from the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation (CSSC) will discuss the importance of Sargassum the land and in the sea. Videos will appear on HRI’s YouTube channel and Facebook, and the CSSC will offer information via its Facebook (facebook.com/SportfishCenter) and Instagram (@sportfishcenter) pages.
“Producing this series of videos on sargassum has been a way to shed light on one of the Gulf’s most fascinating natural events,” Tunnell stated. “Sargassum isn't just seaweed — it’s a floating habitat that supports an entire community of life, from tiny shrimp and crabs to juvenile fish and sea turtles.”
Sargassum is a type of free-floating brown seaweed that forms large mats in the ocean, particularly in the Atlantic and Gulf regions. It can provide habitat for fish, sea turtles, and other marine life. Despite its ecological benefits, large landings on beaches can create challenges for coastal communities and ecosystems.
The videos and posts will tackle misinformation about the floating plant life, chronicling the types of animals that live in it, and the benefits for beaches and ecosystems.
“While it can pose challenges when it washes ashore in large amounts, it also plays a vital ecological role in the open ocean and along our coasts,” Tunnell added. “Through these videos and posts, we’re helping people see the bigger picture and appreciate the important story sargassum tells about life in the Gulf.”
Kicking off with an introduction to seaweed itself, the Beachcombing video series will highlight the variety of life that depends on sargassum. Beachcombing videos begin May 26, followed by weekly spotlights from Tunnell that include sargassum swimming crab (June 9), shrimp (June 16), pipefish (June 23), and the nudibranch (June 30). On June 2, HRI Chair for Geospatial Sciences Dr. Jim Gibeaut joins to discuss how sargassum contributes to the formation of protective dunes.
As sargassum continues to make its seasonal appearance along the Texas coast, HRI and CSSC aim to turn curiosity into understanding through this engaging information. Follow along on HRI’s and CSSC’s social media channels to learn more.