Since 2011, tons of sargassum algae has been washing up on the beaches in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and Florida. This year, however, is the largest sargassum algae bloom in history. It is about 5,500 miles long and stretches from the Gulf of Mexico to Africa. It is an algae epidemic that is suffocating the Caribbean right now. We recently took this photo in Bermuda, way north of the Caribbean, where the largest seaweed bloom in the world has now reached. Studies are showing the main reason why this algae bloom occurred is due to land pollution. Chemical fertilizers and toxic byproducts from deforestation, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, are running off into the ocean through the Amazon and Mississippi rivers. In our opinion though, these toxic substances are just adding fuel to the fire, a fire that was ignited in the middle part of 2010 when the BP oil spill occurred in the Gulf of Mexico. A Sargassum algae bloom, like many other types of marine algae blooms, is nature’s solution for pollution. A Sargassum algae bloom is also beneficial to marine life, providing food and shelter to many different kinds of marine fish. However, in abnormally high numbers, the algae can harm coral reefs by smothering corals and blocking out sunlight. Therefore, this post is to remind all who read it that we need to be environment-friendly in all that we do. Let’s not keep adding fuel to an already blazing fire. Otherwise, we will continue to suffer more and more consequences every year, making our world not as enjoyable to live in anymore. Bermuda was beautiful as always, and the coral reefs were teeming with life, but a lot less sargassum algae would’ve made the experience so much better!