A heavy buildup of sargassum created less-than-picture-perfect conditions for visitors to Lantana’s beach park in July. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star
By Mary Thurwachter
Lantana Town Council members have revised the town’s beach cleaning directive to incorporate measures for the management of sargassum seaweed accumulation at the public beach.
Marc Fichtner, the town’s marine safety supervisor, said at the council’s July 14 meeting that sargassum has already begun to show up on the beach and that two sea turtle nests had been found on the north end of the beach. He said raking of the beach would be done on an as-needed basis starting this month.
Until this year, the town’s policy has been to limit raking and not to remove sargassum. The thinking was that seaweed was essential for marine life, kept replacement sand on the beach and provided nutrients to plants on dunes.
But the council became more receptive to clean up the seaweed this year after experts warned of more sargassum than ever making its way to the shoreline — and knowing the public’s distaste for dealing with the mess. Experts also said occasional raking would not be damaging.
“I’m just excited to get it going,” said Council member Jesse Rivero, who suggested the town revisit its beach raking policy in recent months.
Council member Chris Castle said he appreciated all the work Fichtner and others had put into the effort.
Mayor Karen Lythgoe agreed with Castle and said, “There are still people who say, ‘Don’t touch it,’ and there are others that say, ‘Get rid of it.’” But the council voted unanimously July 14 to proceed with the raking plan.
Key proposed revisions to the beach cleaning directive include:
• Allowing both manual and mechanical cleaning (previously only manual was permitted);
• Restricting cleaning to seaward of the high tide line and daytime hours only — and requiring pre-cleaning surveys by a marine turtle permit holder authorized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission during nesting season;
• Establishing rules for mechanical raking, including depth limits (maximum 2 inches) and equipment setback (10 feet from vegetation);
• Mandating immediate removal of debris after cleaning;
• Allowing options for managing sargassum, including removal or in-place burial with specialized equipment; and
• Aligning policy with Florida statutes and FWC mechanical beach cleaning guidelines.
Comments